We could witness a big change to the complexion of the promotion race in the Championship tonight, and we may also see Regis Le Bris take a big risk with his Sunderland team selection.
Sunderland travel to Elland Road to take on Leeds United in a real Championship six-pointer tonight, with Daniel Farke’s side looking to regain top spot, and the Black Cats hoping to catch up to their rivals.
There are plenty of reasons to watch Leeds vs Sunderland, as two of the most entertaining teams in the division go head-to-head.
Regis Le Bris’ men will be the underdogs for this one, given the sheer quality of the Leeds team this season, but we know the Black Cats have a trick or two up their sleeve.
We’ve already offered up our predicted Sunderland lineup for the game, but there is one more surprise Le Bris may still spring ahead of kick-off.
Regis Le Bris may play Romaine Mundle from the start
There are so many things Le Bris needs to get right against Leeds if he wants to come away with a positive result, with the shape of the team crucial, as well as the personnel he throws into the game.
One wildcard he may want to play is to use Romaine Mundle from the start of the game. The winger has been out for three months with injury, but has been back in training this week and Le Bris confirmed he is ready to join the squad for the Leeds game.
He’s a player capable of producing ‘big moments’ for Sunderland, and that’s the kind of magic they will need against a relentless Leeds side.
| Statistics | Romaine Mundle (2024/25) |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 15 |
| Minutes | 1,030 |
| Goals | 4 |
| Assists | 2 |
Though they’ve done well in his absence, Sunderland have missed Mundle’s influence at times, and if he is truly ready to play again, he could cause all kinds of problems for Jayden Bogle on the right side of the Leeds defence.
Mundle contributed four goals and two assists in his 15 games at the start of the season before injury struck in November, so there’s no doubting his impact. The only question will be around his fitness, and Le Bris may well prefer to keep Mundle on the bench for this one, but it would be a shame not to use him.
Using Romaine Mundle would finally unleash Enzo Le Fee’s full potential
When everyone is fit, Regis Le Bris has a real midfield dilemma. It’s a good problem to have, mind you, and bringing Mundle back into the fold would transform the dynamic of the Black Cats lineup.
In a hypothetical best XI for Sunderland now, Mundle would start on the left, which frees up Enzo Le Fee to move away from the wing and into a more central position where he can influence the game even more.
Le Fee has been outstanding so far for Sunderland, but fans believe he is wasted on the left and would be far better utilised as a playmaker through the middle.
That shift is surely coming at some point in the next few weeks or months, and it will be fascinating to watch when it does happen. Here’s hoping Le Bris puts that secret weapon to use tonight.