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Regis Le Bris is trying to convince one Sunderland player to change his position

Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris <i>(Image: Mike Egerton)</i>
Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris (Image: Mike Egerton)

REGIS Le Bris is trying to convince Eliezer Mayenda to change his position.

The 19-year-old has played most of his football for Sunderland as a striker and he started the season as the No.9 in Le Bris' side.

But with Wilson Isidor now establishing himself as Sunderland's first choice striker and with the Black Cats short of wingers, Le Bris believes Mayenda has the tools to be a success on the flanks.

Mayenda has played wide right when he's come off the bench in recent weeks and Le Bris has been impressed by the way the striker has taken the challenge on board.

Not that the head coach expects the teenager to be an overnight success in a new position. He knows it will take time and has made that point to the player.

"Probably his best position so far is as a No.9 but because we don't have many solutions on the wings right now I try to convince him to play as a right winger," said Le Bris.

"He's taken it really good. He could be convinced.

"He has many qualities and he's still young. When you're young like that you don't have many experiences, so we trust this option.

"I've said to him 'I don't expect you to play like an experienced winger but give your best and we will see because you have many qualities'."

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Mayenda might have to settle for a place on the bench again against Stoke, with Le Bris suggesting he'll stick with the same attacking quarter of Patrick Roberts, Tommy Watson, Chris Rigg and Isidor despite Sunderland's failure to score in their last two games.

After six games without a win, successive home matches against Stoke and Bristol City provide Sunderland with a big opportunity to get back on track.

Le Bris said: “It is difficult to assess what we need to be more efficient.

“In the last three games, we created many chances but in these games, we only picked up two points which isn’t great.

“It is a question of collective dynamic and improving many, many details.  We have the potential and the players in the team to do it."

Today's game is the first of three against Stoke in the next month, with the reverse fixture taking place at the end of the year and the sides then meeting again in the FA Cup third round.

Le Bris said: "Maybe, we’ll be best friends! We’ll see the results. It’s a tough game, they’re a good team with good players.”