Sunderland Hope For French Flourish

Sunderland Hope For French Flourish

Sunderland will look to benefit from a new manager bounce when the 2024/25 EFL Championship season kicks off this weekend.

The Black Cats head into the new campaign with a new manager in the dugout after Frenchman Regis Le Bris was brought in to lead the side following the departure of Michael Beale back in February.

Le Bris joins the side having previously held the top job at Lorient, guiding the side to a top ten finish in Ligue 1 during his first season in charge.

After a difficult second half to last season saw Sunderland drop away from the play-off places to finish back in 16^th spot in the table the main goal heading into the new season is to try and return to the kind of form that saw the Club reach the play-offs during 2022/23.

Moves have been made to strengthen the playing squad over the summer, although transfer activity for the Black Cats hasn’t been as extensive as at some other sides within the division.

Goalkeepers Simon Moore and Blondy Nna Noukeu have both come onboard alongside Alan Browne and Ian Poveda – both of whom have plenty of experience of playing the game at Championship level.

Departures from the Club include Corry Evans – who was captain as Sunderland won promotion to the Championship during the 2021/22 season – as well as Bradley Dack after his single year deal expired.

Pre-season friendlies included two games in a single day against local outfits South Shields and Gateshead, as well as outings against the lights of Nottingham Forest and French side Marseille – both of which ended in creditable draws.

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