Sunderland will be looking to get another win under their belt against Derby County tonight, and Regis Le Bris may surprise us all with a big call when it comes to his team selection.
After the 0-0 draw against Burnley on Friday night, Sunderland remain firmly in the promotion race, but will need to secure three points against Derby in midweek.
Sunderland are tipped to grab an away win at struggling Derby, with Regis Le Bris’ men surely having too much for the Rams.
However, with a whole host of talented players at his disposal, who the Frenchman will put in his lineup is anyone’s guess, and we think he could do something unexpected.
- READ MORE: Enzo Le Fee ranks second in Sunderland squad in key area following Burnley, he has only played once
Enzo Le Fee could be benched for Sunderland vs Derby County
When deliberating over our predicted Sunderland lineup for the Derby game, Le Bris’ midfield area is very much up for debate, with Chris Rigg, Dan Neil, Jobe Bellingham, and Enzo Le Fee all needing to fit into the team.
The latter, a new signing this month, is an exciting prospect for Sunderland fans, and Le Bris was happy with Le Fee’s debut against Burnley.
But, the Sunderland manager has also said time and time again that the midfielder needs time to connect with the rest of the players and that he arrived on Wearside having played very little football this season.
With this in mind, Le Fee may find himself rested from the start against Derby. This would allow Neil, Rigg, and Jobe to hold the fort in midfield, before the new boy comes on later in the game to try and assert his influence on Derby’s tired legs.
Sunderland can go all-out attack by swapping Le Fee for Mayenda
Derby are struggling this season, and Sunderland will surely fancy their chances of putting the Rams to the sword; even more so after it was revealed their key defender, Curtis Nelson, will miss the game.
Sunderland should have enough defensively to combat any threat Derby pose, and therefore, Le Bris could and should be bold in his team selection by bringing Eliezer Mayenda back into the starting lineup.
The partnership of Mayenda and Isidor will be almost impossible for Derby to handle, and it’s important for Sunderland to get off to a good start away from home to put Warne’s side under pressure.
It’s certainly a game Le Fee can impact, but a slight rest will do him good, as well as allowing Le Bris to tweak his system suitably. Still, we won’t be complaining if he does start Le Fee, as he’s a joy to watch.