HE might not have dominated the headlines as much as Sunderland's matchwinners but would the Black Cats be in the position they're in now without Dan Neil?

Regis Le Bris thinks not.

In the early stages of the season, when the Black Cats were adjusting to the new demands and tactical preferences of Le Bris, Neil, says the head coach, played a hugely important role on and off the pitch.

And that has continued.

Without an effective No.6, the role Neil has played this season, Le Bris admits his favoured 4-3-3 doesn't work, or at least not as well as it has for the Black Cats so far this term.

In an ideal world, Neil would prefer to be playing in a more advanced midfield area with more freedom, but has taken impressively to his disciplined deeper role - to the delight of his boss.

"I think he did well during the first part of the season, but it wasn't so obvious for the observers maybe, because he was really important in adjusting all the behaviour of his teammates," explained Le Bris.

"He's very clever, very important to adjust the formation and balance the team.

"At the end, the individual output is maybe not as huge as expected but is very important for the team. Now that job is done he can add more things like more forward passes, tackling, counter pressing, and you can see how strong he is as an individual player. But at the same time, the role he has for the balance of the team is very important."

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Le Bris added: "We've played mostly a 4-3-3 so far and the role of six is very important to the team, especially to manage the counter attacks.

"If we release that position then there are big gaps for the opposition. So far we haven't conceded many counter attacks. We have managed this part of the game and it's very important. Dan is so important and impressive in that role."

Evidence of his importance has been provided with the amount of time he's spent on the pitch. The 2,245 minutes he's played so far this season is comfortably the most in the squad. He's started and played every minute of every game he's been available for, his only absence the August win at Portsmouth when he was suspended after being sent off against Burnley.

In truth, even if Le Bris felt Neil needed a rest, he hasn't really had the opportunity to give his captain a breather. With Alan Browne on the sidelines, Sunderland aren't particularly well stocked in the middle of the park, hence the head coach last week revealing a midfielder is on his transfer wish-list this month.

But Le Bris' options are also set to be boosted by the return of Salis Abdul Samed, who is expected to be in contention to make his debut in the FA Cup tie against Stoke City at the Stadium of Light this weekend.

Samed will be an alternative No.6 option, so what could that mean for Neil?

"It's too early to know," said Le Bris.

"Salis was out for six months, but I'm happy to see him on the pitch and training properly. But he'll need time to be fit and ready to play at his best level.

"It's like out 4-4-2, we didn't expect to play that way, but the flow of the season led us to that point. With Salis, if Salis is fit and at his best level, we'll find solution. It's good news for me, and for the club and for Dan and Jobe and Riggy, because we have one more good player for that team. At that moment we'll have a decision."