Sunderland fans are yet to see Salis Abdul Samed in action, but when he does finally return from injury, he could transform the Black Cats’ midfield.
Regis Le Bris made a number of signings in the summer for Sunderland, but Salis Abdul Samed has been injured all season, leaving supporters wondering exactly what the midfielder can offer.
Ligue 1 experts suggest Samed could be an ideal fit for Sunderland once he’s recovered from injury, but for now, we can only speculate.
Still, Le Bris has revealed Samed will be back in training very soon, and from there, he could end up pushing for a key role in the Sunderland midfield.
Salis Abdul Samed will give Dan Neil freedom, and allow Jobe and Rigg to rest
It remains to be seen exactly how influential the 24-year-old will be for Sunderland, but we know that Le Bris wants to utilise Samed in his midfield as soon as possible.
When he does, it could give Sunderland a massive boost, and allow the likes of Dan Neil, Jobe Bellingham, and Chris Rigg to go to the next level, too.
Over the weekend, we saw just how much of an impact Neil can make when he progresses up the pitch, with his goal against Swansea proving that the Sunderland skipper is probably better suited in a more advanced role rather than the number six spot he is occupying.
With a more defensive-minded midfielder like Samed in the side, Neil would be given that freedom to roam forward, and we could end up seeing plenty more goals and creativity from the 23-year-old.
Not only that, but having another midfielder fit and available would take a huge burden off the young shoulders of Jobe and Rigg, who have both had to play pretty much every game this season due to the lack of alternatives.
Granted, the young duo are on fire this season, and Jobe Bellingham in particular appears to be reaching incredible new levels already. But, there is no doubt that the pair are going to feel the effects of fatigue eventually.
If Le Bris can have the luxury of giving either of his teenage stars a rest in the New Year, the whole team will surely benefit and become stronger as a result.
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Returning injured players will give Regis Le Bris incredible strength in depth
Sunderland have a fairly lengthy injury list right now, which could make it very tempting for Le Bris to dip into the transfer market in January. But, when you look at the players set to return soon, the Black Cats actually have a good level of strength in depth.
Along with Samed, we will see Romaine Mundle return soon, and Tommy Watson will be back in a couple of months after his ‘unlucky’ injury, too.
Throw in the likes of Jenson Seelt, Alan Browne, and Ian Poveda, and Sunderland have some really exciting options that would allow Le Bris to rotate his squad without seeing a real dip in quality.
Consistency is key in the Championship, and having a fully-fit squad would go a long way to helping Le Bris’ side maintain their unlikely push for promotion.