Le Bris’ management of Le Fee could be the catalyst behind Sunderland promotion
Enzo Le Fee’s availability will have a huge say in who gets promoted via the Championship playoffs.
With a playoff place already sealed, Sunderland can somewhat let their guard down ahead of the final four games, though recent performances suggest they already have.
Any chance of a top two finish evaporated a long time ago, while a fourth place finish has been all but cemented since the start of last month.
With that in mind, Regis Le Bris has made his intentions clear when it comes to his team selection, and the way he has been dealing with Le Fee is very promising.
Le Fee seeing limited minutes for a purpose at Sunderland
Le Fee’s last start for Sunderland came back in February, when the Black Cats fell to a 1-0 defeat at home to Hull City, a game which, in reality, ended their hopes of a top two finish.
The Frenchman was withdrawn at the halftime interval with an injury that would then keep him sidelined until 5 April, with Le Fee only playing 71 minutes of football since then.
| Sunderland | Games | Goals | Assists |
| Le Fee | 11 | 1 | 1 |
Le Bris has showcased his willingness to rest his key players in a bid to have them fully fit for the playoffs, and if that can be the case with Le Fee, he could be the difference.
Sunderland have lacked any real attacking threat and struggled when in transition, which are two of his biggest attributes that he brings to the side.
Premier League football isn’t far away for the Black Cats
To consider where Sunderland are now in comparison to last season, Le Bris has done a marvellous job in his first season in English football and has had a lot to overcome.
Injuries have played their part, as have several refereeing decisions that have left people scratching their heads on many occasions.
However, that success will be short-lived if promotion isn’t achieved, and with the playoffs rapidly approaching, Sunderland will need to be at their best to find a way to win.