REGIS Le Bris is set to keep faith with Eliezer Mayenda for the crunch New Year's Day clash against Sheffield United, despite the forward's costly misses against Blackburn and Stoke City.

Mayenda spurned a glorious late chance to score a stoppage time winner at Ewood Park and then missed the target from an unmarked header at Stoke four days later before the Potters struck in the dying seconds to take the points.

But Le Bris says Mayenda needs support rather than taking out of the firing line, and the teenager is set to keep his place on the flank for tomorrow's game against the Blades.

RECOMMENDED READING:

• Salis Abdul Samed's Sunderland debut plan and Romaine Mundle injury update

• Chris Mepham's end-of-year message he hopes will spark a Sunderland improvement

"Resilience is a key word for footballers, for players who want to achieve high goals," said Le Bris.

"Probably the two main positions on the pitch are the goalkeeper and the strikers. When they miss chances or make a big mistake with a goal at the end, it's always easier for the observers to say they are struggling.

"But watch the other players and they make loads of mistakes but the consequences are not the same. We have to support them when it's difficult. It's not just Eliezer, we have to support all the young players.

"With mistakes they learn. After mistakes you can't say it's finished for you. Every player makes mistakes.

"With a young team we have to assume it's sometimes more difficult. Maybe the last games it wasn't so good but we have to support them.

"We were 16th last season, now we are fourth, the progress is massive. We have supported them until now, we have to stay consistent. We have to keep going."

Patrick Roberts is likely to return to the side on Wednesday after being rested at Stoke, but with Chris Rigg still unavailable, Le Bris must decide whether it's Adil Aouchiche or Milan Aleksic who will make way.