Regis Le Bris makes ‘high risk’ Aaron Connolly admission after Sunderland draw v Leeds United
Aaron Connolly was an unused substitute against Leeds United on Friday (4th October) night because he was too “high risk”, Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris has confirmed.
The upcoming international break could prove to be invaluable for Sunderland as several players edge closer to match fitness, including the Irishman.
Aaron Connolly joined the club as a free agent before the Leeds United encounter and Regis Le Bris explained why he wasn’t utilised.
Le Bris, as per The Northern Echo [5 October] said: “With Aaron, we didn’t want to rush the process.
“He was on the bench [for the Leeds game], and we thought that maybe by being there, he could be useful for the team.
“But it was too high risk [to bring him on] because he probably needs to play for 45 minutes with the Under-21s. Then after that, maybe 60 minutes or 65 in the next game.”
Dan Ballard and Eliezer Mayenda are both expected to return to the squad following the conclusion of the international break with the duo left out of Friday’s (4th October) squad.
Aaron Connolly could be the difference for Sunderland
The reaction to Connolly’s arrival was mixed. However, it could prove to be a shrewd bit of business should Sunderland be able to maintain his fitness.
Having broken into the first team at Brighton, Connolly bagged a brace on his Premier League debut back in 2019 against Tottenham Hotspur and was tipped to be the next big thing.
Things didn’t go quite to plan for the Irishman, however, and multiple loan spells would follow in which he struggled to find form.
His release from Brighton in 2023 provided him an opportunity to rekindle his career elsewhere, joining Hull City on a free where he would go on to score eight goals in 13 starts for the Tigers before an injury caused a setback.
Now at Sunderland, Connolly provides some experience in the striking department and a clear goalscoring ability where the environment is right.
With Wilson Isidor and Eliezer Mayenda both starting the season well, having less weight on his shoulders will only aid his development as he settles in on Wearside.
In other Sunderland news, a supercomputer has predicted how the Championship season will pan out, revealing the likelihood of Sunderland achieving promotion.
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