“Here at Sunderland right now we can’t buy players at that level so we need to build him”- Régis Le Bris names the Sunderland player setting the perfect example right now – and how he can still improve
Régis Le Bris has praised Eliezer Mayenda as an ideal example for his Sunderland teammates after the young forward continued his impressive goalscoring form in their 2-1 win over Cardiff City.
Mayenda, who earned a starting spot after his brace against Sheffield Wednesday, found the back of the net just minutes into the game, marking his seventh goal of the season.
Along with his goals, Mayenda has also registered five assists—an impressive tally considering he hasn’t started many matches.
Le Bris highlighted Mayenda’s patience and his readiness to make an impact when coming off the bench, which sets a strong example in the locker room and aligns perfectly with Sunderland’s recruitment approach.
“He’s doing very well,” Le Bris remarked.
“I’ve said it before—he’s a great example for the team. He spent a long time on the bench, but he kept working hard, staying engaged with the team, and focusing on improving. Now, he’s really impressive.”
Le Bris also emphasized Sunderland’s need to develop talent, as the club isn’t in a position to sign players of Mayenda’s caliber. “We can’t buy players at that level right now, so we have to build them. He’s playing really well—he looks strong, confident, and dominant.
That’s exactly what we need on the pitch as we push through the final stretch of the season. If he can inspire others, that’s a great bonus. Hopefully, this confidence spreads to other players.”
Le Bris is pleased with Mayenda’s development since his arrival at Sunderland last summer but believes the 19-year-old still has room to grow, especially in his clinical finishing.
“He’s improved in many areas because he’s getting minutes and he’s talented,” Le Bris explained.
“He’s eager to work hard and improve. His off-the-ball movement is really good, and he’s great at holding the ball up with his back to goal. When he can turn, dribble, and drive forward, he’s effective.
However, in the final third, he can still improve—becoming more efficient there would make him even more impactful.”
Regarding the possibility of starting Mayenda and Wilson Isidor together up front, Le Bris has made it clear that he prefers to deploy this partnership later in games rather than from the start, maintaining the team’s usual 4-3-3 formation.
Ahead of the Cardiff City match, Le Bris suggested that one of the two strikers would likely have to settle for a place on the bench.
“I think it’s still important to maintain some consistency,” he said.
“Right now, we can’t afford to waste time.
Consistency is key, and we’ve been doing well, so it’s about maintaining that and improving.
It’s possible to play them together, but we have 11 games left, and our squad is fairly small. At the moment, I’m focused on managing everyone and not necessarily getting everyone on the pitch.
It’s important to finish the season strongly, and sometimes that means refreshing the team, as we did at Sheffield Wednesday.”
