Regis Le Bris is a straight-talker. But his latest comments on Milan Aleksic may not go down so well with the Sunderland record-breaker.
Milan Aleksic has rapidly become a hot topic among Sunderland fans, despite having featured just once for the club in the Championship this season.
Sunderland signed Aleksic in a £3.5million deal from Serbian outfit Radnicki on deadline day in the summer, making him the club’s most expensive signing of the Kyril Louis-Dreyfus era.
Regis Le Bris has so far urged caution and patience with Aleksic. Eventually, Aleksic made his Sunderland debut against Millwall towards the end of November, but it was a tough debut.
Aleksic failed to impress and he’s not featured for the first-team since, instead completing 90 minutes for the U21s against Gateshead earlier in December.
Now with the January transfer window just around the corner, and players expected to leave the Stadium of Light, Le Bris has discussed Aleksic’s immediate future at the club.
Regis Le Bris discusses possible Milan Aleksic loan at Sunderland
Speaking to the press on Monday ahead of his side’s game against Bristol City on Tuesday evening, Le Bris discussed the January transfer window.
He discussed possible player sales at the club and even touched on the possibility of Aleksic heading out on loan, which he seemed to firmly deny could happen.
Le Bris said of the Serbian U21 midfielder: “Probably, for Milan, he still needs to be part of the environment here. He was in Serbia before, now he is here learning English and he needs to continue with that.
“He is also learning a new style of football. He has many good qualities, and probably spending more time with us is the best option for him. We will see.”
So for Aleksic, the rest of this season might be simply be about being around the team, around Le Bris and getting to grips with all of it, instead of playing regular football.
And Le Bris certainly has a point. Spending time at another club playing another style of play, when Aleksic is not yet up to speed at Sunderland, might prove a foolish move from the Black Cats.
- READ MORE: Regis Le Bris sets ‘consistency’ target for ‘impressive’ Sunderland ace ahead of Bristol City
Regis Le Bris wants Milan Aleksic to emulate Tommy Watson at Sunderland
One Sunderland player who’s impressing of late is Tommy Watson. The Black Cats academy man scored both goals as Sunderland beat Stoke City 2-1 last time out, having rapidly become an important player for the Black Cats.
Speaking earlier in the season, Le Bris used Watson as a case study for Aleksic at Sunderland, with Watson having had to be patient for his chance, before now shining with the first-team.
Le Bris said: “Sometimes you are waiting for the right opportunity. It was the case for Tommy Watson, for example.
“He waited for maybe, six, seven, eight weeks without opportunities, and now it’s done. He started, probably will start again.
“He got minutes, and experiences, and confidence as well. So for Milan, it’s the [same] case. A talented player for sure.”
For Aleksic, next season might be where he’s given more first-team minutes; once he better learns the language and gets to grips with the style of play in both England and at Sunderland.