Sunderland’s head coach, Tony Mowbray, has suggested in his pre-match press conference that the young talent Eliezer Mayenda might have his first appearance this weekend against Norwich City.
Mayenda, who was acquired during the summer transfer window for a reported £870,000, arrived at the Stadium of Light with a 25 percent sell-on clause for his former club, Sochaux. Unfortunately, shortly after joining the Black Cats, the 18-year-old suffered a hamstring injury, sidelining him for several months. However, he has now returned to training, and Mowbray confirmed that he recently completed a full 90-minute session.
When questioned about Mayenda’s inclusion in the squad for the upcoming clash with the Canaries, Mowbray remained cautious but open to the possibility. He stated, “I believe we’ll likely place another striker on the bench and observe if it can benefit us. However, he’s not fully prepared to start as he hasn’t seen competitive action for ten weeks. He did play a full 90 minutes earlier this week, but that’s not enough to be ready to start after such an extended period without regular play. Could he be a valuable addition to the bench and potentially make a late appearance in the game? Maybe, because scoring a goal can happen in an instant. We’ll have to wait and see.”
Sunderland has been facing difficulties in scoring goals in recent matches, managing only one goal in their last three fixtures. Additionally, Jack Clarke has been the team’s leading scorer with eight goals this season, while six players are tied as the second-highest scorers, each with just two goals. Considering that Mayenda was signed three months ago, Sunderland fans are eager to witness his contribution to the team.
While adapting to English football may take some time, Mayenda’s debut in front of the home fans tomorrow could provide a warm welcome for the Spanish player and the confidence boost needed to make a significant impact.
