O’Nien made a superb return to the starting XI at the Kassam Stadium last week
Régis Le Bris has paid tribute to Luke O’Nien’s influence on the Sunderland squad after his return to the starting XI at Oxford last weekend.
O’Nien has had limited minutes since returning from a dislocated shoulder earlier in the season but has impressed in both of Sunderland’s FA Cup wins to date, winning man of the match in the 1-0 win at the Kassam Stadium.
The Sunderland head coach says the 31-year-old has a ‘rare’ attitude that is the perfect example for any of the younger players in the squad who are perhaps frustrated with their own game time at the club this season.
“He's really well connected with his attitude,” Le Bris said.
“I really want to highlight the way he behaves every day, he's so well connected with the lads.
“He's the club captain, but not the match captain. The way he connects with the collective ambition, first of all, and then his own way to manage every opportunity to grow is perfect. I think for the manager, coaching staff and for the young players as well, when they struggle because they don't play as they would like, you have a player like him, you say, I can be inspired by him. Sometimes in football, you can meet talented players with bad behaviours. If every day you have those behaviours under your eyes, maybe you will be inspired negatively. It's totally the opposite with him.
“His profile is really rare, so we have to enjoy having someone like him in the squad. He's always positive even when he didn't play a lot, but his behaviour is always connected with, one, the squad.
“Squad first, team first. And then two, I want to improve myself through different experiences, because you don't play, and as a footballer you want to play. But he can seize everything to get better.”
Régis Le Bris issues Sunderland injury update
Earlier in his press conference, Le Bris confirmed that Granit Xhaka was back in contention for Sunday’s game against Fulham but revealed that Reinildo is facing around a month on the sidelines with a knee injury.
“Granit has trained more or less fully this week, so he’s available for selection. That won’t be the case for Bertrand [Traore], although he will rejoin the group next week and might be available soon. Reinildo is the only new player missing. He won’t be available for three or four weeks, so potentially after Brighton, in time for the Newcastle game. It’s a knee injury. It was during the game at home against Liverpool. He felt something in his knee, and the first diagnosis was not positive. After that, we had a second diagnosis and that was more positive, but he still needs a short period of rest to be back.”
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