Regis Le Bris to have mixed feelings after what Bertrand Traore did away from Sunderland
Bertrand Traore joined Sunderland from Ajax on deadline day.
After failing to bring Armand Lauriente to the Stadium of Light this summer, Sunderland had to wait until the latter stages of the window to secure their third winger arrival.
Traore made the move to Sunderland, though immediately after putting pen to paper on a one-year deal on Wearside, he jetted off for international duty.
However, what happened on Friday will have Regis Le Bris feeling a mixture of emotions.
Bertrand Traore was an unused sub for Burkina Faso
While Habib Diarra started for Senegal in their 2-0 victory over Sudan, Traore’s Friday was very different.
The 30-year-old was forced to sit on the bench for his country, watching from the sidelines as they secured a 5-0 win over Djibouti.
On the face of it, it is a good thing that he wasn’t used, as the likelihood of him returning to Wearside unscathed is high.
However, on the other hand, Le Bris will want as much time as possible to bed him into his Premier League squad ahead of their trip to Crystal Palace next weekend, and that will be hindered by these types of absences.
These are often the dilemmas that emerge over the course of an international break, and with yet another one to attend to in October, similar feelings will be felt.
Bertrand Traore could be a gem for Sunderland
Given some of the names that have made the move to the Stadium of Light this summer, the addition of Traore is one that many will see as underwhelming.
However, it could prove to be the opposite.
Last season, Traore scored ten and assisted eight for Ajax, in a rather fruitful campaign across all competitions.
- Eredivisie – 32 games, six goals, five assists
- Europa League – 15 games, four goals, three assists
His record prior to that left a lot to be desired, though it showcases that he has outstanding quality, and of course, experience to add to a very youthful Sunderland side.
Whether he features in next weekend’s clash with Crystal Palace remains to be seen, though he will certainly have a big role to play throughout the season.
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