Le Bris makes Mayenda selection admission ahead of Sunderland v Cardiff
Eliezer Mayenda has done all he possibly can to force Regis Le Bris’ hand for more regular starts at Sunderland.
Mayenda was the two-goal hero for Sunderland in the 2-1 win at Sheffield Wednesday last time out on 28 February.
The win at Hillsborough was not without its controversy, but it certainly highlighted the part Mayenda still has to play in the Mackems’ push for promotion to the Premier League.
Mayenda was brought into the side against Wednesday to allow Wilson Isidor a breather, but his selection for Sunderland’s clash against Cardiff remains to be seen.
Mayenda may drop to bench against Cardiff
Picking Mayenda and Isidor together for Cardiff’s visit to the Stadium of Light would certainly make home supporters happy.
The pair have the potential to tear a Cardiff side with the joint-worst defensive record to absolute shreds on Saturday (8 March).
With Romaine Mundle on the left and Patrick Roberts on the right, Sunderland have the chance to lay down a serious marker on home soil.
| Eliezer Mayenda | 2024-25 |
| Games played | 27 |
| Games started | 16 |
| Goals | 6 |
| Assists | 5 |
However, speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday (7 March), Le Bris hinted that Mayenda may drop back to the bench now that Isidor is rested up.
“It’s good news for us to have two good strikers,” Le Bris said. “They are doing well together and have played together sometimes. They are well connected and we are lucky to have them.
“It’s possible to play them together but at the same time, we have 11 games left to play and we have to manage our squad which is quite small.
“So at the minute, I’m more in the mindset to manage everyone rather than putting everyone on the pitch and it’s important to finish well in this league.
“It’s sometimes important to refresh the team and this was the case at Sheffield Wednesday.”
Reading between the lines, Le Bris is effectively saying Isidor is in line to return to the XI, with rotation up top likely to continue until the playoffs.
Sunderland have one eye on Championship playoffs
Le Bris will not for one second take his eye off the ball, but it is looking increasingly likely that a playoff campaign beckons.
Sunderland are fourth in the Championship, eight points off the automatic promotion spots and 13 points above Bristol City in seventh.
Football has a habit of punishing teams who get ahead of themselves, but it would take something quite remarkable for Sunderland to not be competing in the playoffs.
Le Bris will use these remaining 11 matches as a chance to rotate his Sunderland side and even possibly experiment with one eye on the end-of-season lottery.
That is not a bad position for the Mackems to be in at all, with everyone now pushing to achieve the same goal in earning promotion back to the Premier League.
Whether he starts games or is introduced from the bench, Mayenda will certainly have his part to play in that.