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“What is the chances of Leo staying at stadium of light this January?”- Sunderland Boss Le Bris Drops SHOCK transfer HINT for Leo Hjelde following Alese Injury
Régis Le Bris Hints at Leo Hjelde’s Sunderland Future Following Aji Alese Injury
Sunderland head coach Régis Le Bris has strongly suggested that Leo Hjelde will remain at the club this January following Aji Alese’s recent injury.
Hjelde, a former Leeds United defender, made just his second start of the season in Sunderland’s 2-1 FA Cup defeat to Stoke City at the Stadium of Light.
During the match, he played in two different positions after Alese was stretchered off with a suspected serious knee injury, forcing Le Bris to adjust his defensive lineup. Hjelde initially played as a centre-back alongside Luke O’Nien, before switching to left-back after Alese’s injury.
Although Hjelde has mainly featured as a substitute in the Championship this season, Le Bris has trusted him in key moments to see out games late on.
This limited game time led to some speculation among fans about the possibility of a loan move for the defender, especially with the transfer window open.
Before Alese’s injury, Le Bris had previously acknowledged that while Hjelde is an important player in the squad, his lack of minutes could create a dilemma for the club during the winter window.
However, following Alese’s injury, Le Bris hinted that Hjelde is likely to stay. He stated, “I said before that Leo is always involved in training, always engaged in the games, even if he’s only played a few minutes. He deserved to be on the pitch today, did well, and is a good option for us.”
Hjelde is well-liked in the Sunderland dressing room, with Le Bris even giving him the captain’s armband in the Carabao Cup tie against Preston North End earlier in the season.
Given Alese’s injury, Sunderland is unlikely to allow Hjelde to leave, although Dan Ballard is nearing a return to fitness.
Reflecting on his performance against Stoke, Hjelde said, “I felt more comfortable playing as a centre-back. The first few minutes were a bit slow, but I grew into the game and thought I did quite well.”
He also spoke about Sunderland’s goals for the season, adding, “The manager’s made it clear that we want to go up this season. With the signings we’ve made, there’s a clear pathway and a good chance. It’s just four months of proper football left. We got a good run-out in the FA Cup, but we’re fully focused on Friday now.”
Two weeks ago, Le Bris remarked, “He knows this part of the squad is the strongest at the moment because we have many players, and he has to wait. But he knows the opportunity could still come. In football, sometimes you have to wait, and for us, the coach, and the club, a player like Leo is very important.”
