Geertrudia joined the [Black Cats](http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/football/sunderland) from RB Leipzig on deadline-day at the start of this month, with his initial season-long loan deal featuring a clause that enables Sunderland to complete a €23m permanent signing next summer.
The 25-year-old has played in a number of different positions for Leipzig, his former club Feyenoord and the Dutch national side, but while his versatility could prove a useful asset on Wearside, his main focus will be on trying to establish himself as one of Sunderland’s first-choice central defenders.
“I believe that his best position is probably centre-back,” said Le Bris. “I think that is his main target, but he is really versatile. When we speak about positions, we speak about different roles.
“He can play at centre-back, but he could also play a bit wider or even in the midfield. We will try to exploit this profile, and we will see what the opportunities will be in the next few weeks.”
With experience of playing in midfield, Geertrudia is a ball-playing centre-half, which is something Le Bris and the rest of Sunderland’s recruitment team were keen to prioritise as they pursued a new defender in the final few weeks of the window.
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A series of moves for Bologna’s Jhon Lucumi broke down, but Geertrudia was always regarded as an attractive alternative option, with his passing capabilities as important as his defensive attributes.
“I think he is a really well-rounded player,” said Le Bris. “He can defend, he can attack and his versatility will hopefully help us to build up the play. He can manage different positions through possessional play as well.
“We will see how things develop with him because it is still only five or six training sessions that we have had with him now, as well as some sessions of video analysis. Now, he will start having different experiences with us, and hopefully that will help him add some different layers.”
Geertrudia has not been on international duty in the last two weeks, so has been able to settle into his new surrounds at the Academy of Light, working under Le Bris and the rest of Sunderland’s coaching staff.
He was involved in Leipzig’s pre-season programme, so should be reasonably fit, but with his side having won two of their opening three league matches, Le Bris is understandably reluctant to make too many changes at Selhurst Park on Saturday.
With Dan Ballard still unavailable because of injury, along with Luke O’Nien, Aji Alese, Dennis Cirkin and Leo Hjedle, Le Bris is set to name the same back four against Palace that started the 2-1 win over Brentford that preceded the international break.
That will mean Nordi Mukiele partnering Omar Alderete at centre-half, with Trai Hume and Reinildo Mandava filling the full-back berths.
“It’s a question of momentum,” said Le Bris, whose side’s only away game of the season so far ended in a defeat at Burnley. “We have many options now, which is really positive, but we know the journey in the Premier League will be long and will have different experiences.
“Hopefully not, but there will probably be injuries and suspensions to contend with. We know that with these eight or nine defensive players, they will all have opportunities.
“Now, the momentum is positive, so I think that the players who have been starting deserve to keep playing. Then, we will see during the game and then later whether something needs to change.”