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Regis Le Bris' first-team plan for Milan Aleksic - and tactical thoughts on youngster
REGIS LE BRIS admits Milan Aleksic is still acclimatising to life at Sunderland, but the Black Cats boss expects the teenager to make his first-team debut soon.
Aleksic joined Sunderland from Serbian side Radnikci to considerable fanfare in the summer, but is yet to make his senior bow for the club.
While the 19-year-old has only limited first-team experience in his homeland, he has been called up to the senior Serbian national team, with Sunderland understood to have agreed a package that could eventually be worth around £3m in order to sign him.
Aleksic’s inability to speak much English was an issue when he first arrived on Wearside, and Le Bris has been keen to ease the teenager into his plans rather than throw him straight in at the deep end following his summer switch from his homeland.
That integration process remains ongoing, but while Aleksic has been an unused substitute in Sunderland’s last eight matches, Le Bris does not think it will be too much longer before he is given a chance to show what he can do.
“It is still the beginning for him (Aleksic),” said the Black Cats boss. “The language is still a problem for him, although of course the main language is football.
“His development is still in progress, although his individual skills are very interesting – he is quick, he has good technique and he can shoot from a long distance. That is exciting.
“Now, the question is one of culture and how he can connect with the other players in different phases. We are working on it. He still needs time, but I am sure he will have some opportunities to get on the pitch for us soon.”
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When Aleksic was signed in the summer, both Le Bris and sporting director, Kristjaan Speakman, spoke glowingly of his ability to play in a number of different attacking positions.
Le Bris still thinks that is the case, although for the moment, the head coach will be looking to play the teenager in a position where his defensive responsibilities are kept to a minimum.
As a result, he has been earmarked for the ‘number ten’ position that is closest to the attacking-midfield role currently being filled by Chris Rigg rather than the wide positions that house Romaine Mundle and Patrick Roberts or the deeper-lying midfield slots that tend to be occupied by Jobe Bellingham and Dan Neil.
“I think his (Aleksic) best position at the moment is probably as a number ten,” said Le Bris. “That looks like his best position, mainly at the moment because of the responsibilities you have in that role.
“When you play in a 4-4-2 with two number sixes, then the responsibility for the players in those midfield roles is very high, both in and out of possession. If you play higher on the pitch, then that changes a little bit, so I think that could be his best position to start.”
Aleksic will be joining an attacking-midfield unit that is brimming with confidence following Sunderland’s strong start to the season, even if Le Bris still insists his new-look side remains a work in progress despite heading into the weekend with a five-point lead at the top of the table.
“It’s a long journey, and we don’t know how the identity will evolve,” said Le Bris. “It depends on our players, and the link they can create together, and the opposition as well.
“The main point is the willingness to improve and keep this mindset every day, even after the good period we have had. It’s very easy for a head coach to find many elements in the game we need to improve, even if we have won a game. We have weaknesses, like every team, and if you repeat those behaviours, they can become a problem later. Obviously, the dynamic is good, but it is still the beginning of the season and we know the Championship is very long.”
