Enzo Le Price is on the market for Sunderland’s sport in opposition to West Bromwich Albion, stay on Sky Sports activities, after lacking six weeks via damage.
The central midfielder, signed in January on mortgage from Roma in one of the crucial high-profile Championship offers of the window, suffered a hamstring damage in opposition to Hull Metropolis on February 22 in Sunderland’s solely house defeat of the season.
However Le Price is now in competition for Saturday’s lunchtime sport at play-off rivals West Brom – stay on Sky Sports activities+.
Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris says they are going to be cautious with Le Price on his return forward of the ultimate seven video games of the league season and a probable play-off schedule.
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Le Price has deputised on the left wing for a lot of the season, however could lastly play in his favoured central-midfield position with Romain Mundle and Brighton-bound Tommy Watson match after returning earlier than the worldwide break.
“I hope now that we’ll see him in midfield as a result of that is his finest place,” Le Bris stated. “We’ll attempt to join the opposite midfielders now.”
Highlights of the Sky Guess Championship match between Sunderland and Millwall
Le Price has scored as soon as and arrange one other in eight appearances for Sunderland since arriving from Roma.
Sunderland, who’re hoping to return to the Premier League after eight years away, are fourth within the desk and 15 factors away from sixth-placed West Brom forward of Saturday’s sport.
Evaluation: Le Price return a sport changer for Le Bris
Le Price’s low-key limp off the pitch at half-time vs Hull advised a story not many noticed. He injured his hamstring earlier within the half however performed on, considerably restricted. Followers had been bowled over to see him eliminated, questioning if it was a mistake.
He had began each sport since signing as much as that time, having featured simply 10 occasions in his first six months at Roma. This caught as much as him. However he is again now. And, for the primary time, capable of play with Mundle.
Up to now, Le Price has featured predominantly on the left wing, not his most popular place. Nonetheless, his high quality shone away from the central areas he’s used to taking over.
There was a second in his debut in opposition to Burnley. He obtained the ball in his personal half and let roll in entrance of him, deftly flicking it past Connor Roberts, earlier than driving up the left flank and whipping with a ball with the surface of his boot that wrapped across the Clarets defence and located Wilson Isidor, who might solely hearth vast.
Enzo Le Price scored his first objective for Sunderland in type
He averaged 4.28 progressive carries (89th percentile), 2.67 carries into the ultimate third (89th percentile), 3.08 passes into the ultimate third (ninetieth percentile) with 0.28 anticipated assisted objectives (96th percentile) per 90.
His guile was proven defensively too, notching 2.94 tackles (96th percentile) and 1.07 interceptions (96th percentile); he embraced Le Bris’ aggressive off-the-ball type.
In a central position, Le Price can have ability, tempo and energy forward of him with Jobe Bellingham, Patrick Roberts, and Mundle.
Le Bris, the person who introduced Le Price via at French membership Lorient, says central midfield is “his finest place” and he plans to revive him to that position.
He added: ”With Enzo, we can have an alternative choice, a unique type of play, perhaps completely different connections, perhaps we are able to open the rotation of the midfield, for instance.”
Alongside Dan Neil (captain), Chris Rigg, and Bellingham, Sunderland have 4 elite centre-midfield choices for the play-offs. And are available Could, Le Price could be the largest sport changer of all of them.