A mistake made by former Sunderland boss Michael Beale looks inexcusable one year on.
Throughout the 2024/25 Championship season, Sunderland have shown that they have come on leaps and bounds under French boss Regis Le Bris.
The Black Cats currently find themselves sat 4th in the Championship table, alongside a contingent of top sides, which is a real testament to Le Bris, who has got his side to match three sides that are backed by parachute payments.
There is in fact stark contrast for the club, both on-and-off the pitch when compared to this time last year, where the Black Cats were in free-fall in the league under the out-of-depth Michael Beale.
With the benefit of hindsight, it is clear that Sunderland took several steps back with the Beale appointment and one decision made by the former boss now looks incredible, especially considering the different approach that Le Bris took with the issue.
Former Sunderland boss Michael Beale decision surrounding Eliezer Mayenda looks inexcusable a year on
This season has seen several Sunderland youngsters stand out under Le Bris, one of which being Spanish forward Eliezer Mayenda.
It was a surprise to see him become such a prominent figure in the Black Cats squad at the wake of the 2024/25 Championship campaign, with him being the fourth choice option up top last season prior to being shipped out on a loan to Scottish Premiership side Hibernian.
Despite this, he has been crucial for the Black Cats this season, notching nine goal contributions, despite often being utilised in a less familiar left-wing position up until the most recent run of games that have seen him played in a front two alongside Wilson Isidor.
Comparing to this time last year, Beale, per Sunderland Echo said in regards to his attacking options last season: “So somebody had to stay in and we feel at this moment in time that Semedo, Rusyn and Burstow are the right three to lead our line, where Mayenda at this moment at a younger age will probably play off the right. In that position I have Abdoullah [Ba] playing well, I have Pat [Roberts], Romaine [Mundle] was coming in, so it made sense [to send Mayenda on loan].”
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Eliezer Mayenda has proven all the doubters wrong after first-team assurgence
The Black Cats striker has proven all, expect Le Bris, wrong this season, as whilst calls to bring in surplus strikers in the summer transfer window echoed around Wearside, Sunderland in fact had a more-than competent Championship attacker buried in their squad.
The fact that Mayenda was behind the likes of Hemir, Rusyn and Burstow in the pecking order last season just shows how little faith Beale had in his abilities, and where he has come from.
After notching his most recent goal in the win against Derby County, he continues to defy expectations leading the line for Sunderland.