“Their absence was mainly because….” Sunderland Headcoach finally reveal why regular starting DUO couldn’t make bench against Portsmouth.
Régis Le Bris has suggested that Adil Aouchiche and Abdoullah Ba could work their way back into his plans in the coming weeks, despite being left out of the matchday squad once again on Saturday.
The two players had also been excluded the previous week, with Le Bris stating that it was a personal choice and that they needed to prove themselves in training to regain their spots. Even with the absence of the four deadline-day signings, which left Sunderland with a notably young and inexperienced bench, Aouchiche and Ba were still not included in the squad for the Fratton Park match.
However, Le Bris clarified that this time, their absence was primarily due to potential moves that were being considered on deadline day. It was decided to keep them in Sunderland in case any transfer developments occurred, but now that they are staying with the club, they will rejoin training. The head coach emphasized that they will be considered for selection if they perform well in practice.
Le Bris explained, “There was a possibility they could leave, so we decided to leave them in Sunderland. They will return to training next week.”
He also mentioned that players like Jewison Bennette, who didn’t secure a loan move, would still have opportunities to fight for a place in the team. “We have three or four months until the next transfer window, they’ll work with us, so it’s still possible for them to play in the team,” Le Bris added.
Reflecting on Sunderland’s transfer window, Le Bris admitted that he hadn’t yet fully assessed the club’s business but was pleased with the depth that had been added to the squad. “I will think about it later, I think! We worked hard—this transfer window isn’t easy. It ends after the Championship has started, so it’s strange.
“We are confident and happy because we targeted players in specific positions and I believe we’ve achieved that. We also need to develop our current players. A good player from another club still needs to adapt to our style, so we have work ahead in the next two weeks.”
