Simon Adingra has point to prove after what Regis Le Bris said following Sunderland defeat vs Man United
Sunderland suffered their first defeat in five matches after losing 2-0 to Manchester United on Saturday
Sunderland’s 2-0 loss came as a result of two first-half goals from Mason Mount and Benjamin Sesko, as the hosts recorded a win to ease the pressure on manager Ruben Amorim.
Sunderland made 14 signings in the summer transfer window in order to boost their hopes of achieving survival in the Premier League this season.
Regis Le Bris has led Sunderland to seventh place after seven games, and despite most of the new arrivals performing excellently, Adingra hasn’t enjoyed the easiest start to life at the Stadium of Light.
Simon Adingra must improve following early substitution against Man United
Simon Adingra joined Sunderland from Brighton for a fee of £21.5million plus add-ons.
Against Man United, Adingra was substituted for Dan Ballard after just 37 minutes, with Sunderland already 2-0 down at the time.
After the match, Le Bris gave the reason as to why Adingra was substituted so early on in the game.
He said: “I don’t think it’s just a question of one player, that’s never the case.
“It was a question of the main dynamic of the team; it wasn’t efficient. It was probably really important to change something, otherwise the score could have been different.”
| Games played | 6 |
| Games started | 4 |
| Goals | 0 |
| Assists | 0 |
| Chances created | 5 |
| Pass accuracy (percentage) | 76.8 |
Not only do the numbers not make for good reading, but Adingra must raise his levels given the fact that he is the club’s second-most expensive signing of all time.
However, the 23-year-old must be given time to adapt to a new system, and although his performance levels must rise now, there is little doubt that he won’t go on to improve his current form.
The Ivorian winger is an extremely talented player, and his breakthrough into Brighton’s first team in 2023-24 had him labelled as one of the country’s most exciting young prospects.
Adingra is one of the more exciting arrivals to have walked through the door, and his impressive CV at such a young age speaks volumes.
- Read more: All 32 words Alan Shearer said about Sunderland on Match of the Day in loss vs Man United
Simon Adingra has all the qualities to become a success at Sunderland
Having enjoyed a fantastic spell at Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise, Adingra registered six Premier League goals in his first season at Brighton.
The peak of his career came in 2024, when he played a crucial role in helping the Ivory Coast lift its first Africa Cup of Nations title in nine years.
| Appearances | 73 |
| Goals | 12 |
| Assists | 5 |
He is clearly a player with huge potential, and joining a newly-promoted team at 23 is not easy.
His explosive speed and direct dribbling offer Sunderland a completely different profile for the left-wing position, and there are doubts over his ability.
However, if Adingra doesn’t start chipping in with goal contributions over the next few months, questions will be asked over the fee that was paid for him.
Given Le Bris’ call to arms following the Man United defeat, it is clear he has a point to prove after the international break.
Enjoyed this article? Stay connected with all the latest Sunderland news, updates, and behind-the-scenes content by following us on our new Instagram account –@mackemnews247