And here we are, standing on the precipice of a second international break in two months. For Sunderland fans, the interruption to the usual domestic schedule could hardly come at a worse time. Their side are performing remarkably and consistently well under Regis Le Bris, and currently top the Championship after nine matches.
While supporters may be irritated by the delay in play, for some members of Le Bris’ squad, the break could finally present a genuine opportunity to attract the manager’s attention. Whether they are traveling to represent their country or simply working hard on the training pitch, the next fortnight might be critical for some Wearside-based athletes. Sunderland has six players who could impress Regis Le Bris during the upcoming international break.
Connolly was named in Le Bris’ match day squad for the first time against Leeds United on Friday evening. Although he did not play, his new head coach was clear about the striker’s future plans. In a post-match press conference, he stated: “With Aaron, we did not want to hasten the process. He was on the bench, and we hoped that his presence would benefit the team. However, bringing him on was too risky because he would most likely need to play 45 minutes with the U21s. After that, perhaps 60 or 65 minutes in the following game.”
The timing of possibilities for the U21s remains uncertain, although Graeme Murty’s team will face Derby County on Monday evening. If he is allowed a run out, it might be a perfect chance for the Irishman to show not only his match fitness, but also his usefulness as a goal-scoring option.
Dan Ballard
Ballard was absent from Le Bris’ sides against Derby County and Leeds United last week due to injury. Nonetheless, he has been called up for Northern Ireland, and if he plays for his national team and returns unhurt, it will be a good opportunity for him to show his head coach what he is capable of. Ballard’s place in Sunderland’s starting lineup was once assured, but recent performances by Chris Mepham and Luke O’Nien have made it less likely.
Milan Aleksic
Similarly to Connolly, Aleksic has yet to play for Sunderland’s first team. Unlike the Irishman, the talented midfielder will be away on international duty next week, representing Serbia U21 against Ukraine. Given his previous engagement with the senior squad, you would expect him to play in that game, and if he does, it might be an excellent opportunity to demonstrate to his club manager how close he is to earning his first minutes in red and white.
Salis Abdul Samed
Le Bris has mentioned Connolly, Ballard, and Aleksic as potential selections against Hull City on October 20th, but there has been no indication of optimism for Samed, who is still not fully healthy. Nonetheless, the upcoming fortnight remains crucial for the Sunderland loanee. If he can put in the effort and create some solid foundations, there is no reason why he can’t position himself for a big role in the near future.
Read more news:https://sportupdates.co.uk/
Leave a Reply