Sunderland got their pre-season underway on Saturday, with back-to-back friendly matches.
Sunderland and new head coach Regis Le Bris got their pre-season underway on Saturday, with a friendly double-header in the North East.
The Black Cats travelled to South Shields in a lunchtime kick-off and then to Gateshead for an evening kick-off.
Le Bris oversaw a 5-0 win in the game vs South Shields but watched on as his side lost 2-1 at Gateshead, with Jack Clarke on the score-sheet in that game.
Sunderland fans have largely reserved opinions on Le Bris until the 2024/25 Championship season gets going.
Though defeat vs Gateshead, with what was a strong starting XI, will certainly be worrying for the Black Cats’ new head coach.
But there were definitely glimpses of potential in the South Shields game, with one man catching the eye perhaps more than most; Eliezer Mayenda.
The Spanish 19-year-old was on the score-sheet along with Patrick Roberts, Trai Hume, Chris Rigg, and Adil Aouchiche, earning praise for a ‘promising’ performance.
Eliezer Mayenda performance could spell bad news for Luis Hemir at Sunderland
Mayenda joined the Black Cats last summer. He featured eight times in the Championship without scoring, then joining Hibernian on loan for the second half of the campaign.
Mayenda failed to score in two league outings for the Scottish club and has since returned to the Academy of Light.
He was replaced by Luis Hemir at half-time vs South Shields; Hemir also joined last summer, also failing to score as the 20-year-old featured 23 times in the Championship.
Hemir was a figure of debate at Sunderland last season for his poor performances in the league, and now with Mayenda in the mix and looking much sharper, it could spell a possible exit for Hemir this summer; either on loan, or maybe even on a permanent basis.
What stance Kristjaan Speakman should take on Luis Hemir at Sunderland
Hemir clearly did something at Benfica in the past to attract the interest of Sunderland and Kristjaan Speakman.
And we’ve seen the odd glimpse of a striker who could potentially be very sharp in and around the box. But the main theme of his performances from last season were that he’s lacking work-rate and overall quality.
He failed to make an impression against South Shields and Le Bris may quickly want to make a decision on Hemir, with game-time likely to be limited for him next season with Sunderland certain to sign a striker or two.
Mayenda’s emergence in pre-season may also push Le Bris into wanting a loan exit for Hemir. But after his poor 2023/24 campaign, Speakman and co may even want to cut their losses on Hemir, and sanction a permanent exit if they feel he won’t fulfil his potential at the Stadium of Light.