The Sunderland midfielder recently made his 50th appearance for the club
Régis Le Bris believes Enzo Le Fée and Sunderland are being rewarded for the midfielder's 'strong' decision to swap AS Roma for the Championship last January.
Le Fée played a key role in Sunderland's promotion back to the Premier League but has arguably gone to another level since then, and has been a key player in a campaign that has so far been more successful than most predicted. Le Fée recently passed 50 games for the club and underlined his importance to the squad with a brief but spectacularly effective cameo in the Tyne-Wear derby, returning from a minor muscle injury to play a key part in Brian Brobbey's late winner at St James' Park.
Le Fée's career had stalled a little after his major early success under Le Bris at Lorient, but the head coach believes his consistency this season demonstrates his ability to become a 'great player'.
"I'm really pleased, because after Lorient he had good spells, but also difficult moments in Rennes and then in Roma," he said of his 50 game milestone.
"When you reach 24, 25 years old, you never know if you still just have potential or if you can become a great player. I thought he could be a great player. Coming from Roma last season, in the Championship, it was a strong decision from him and he showed great quality. He got an injury in February as well, so it was a question for him about his physical consistency. This season, the Premier League is probably the hardest and most demanding league in the world so if you can stay consistent as he was, it shows something. I'm really pleased because of the ability to repeat, but to play in different positions as well. He's always smart, always well-connected with the squad. Always keen to do the tasks, even if it's a defensive task, he will do it with purpose. He's a good team-mate and a really good player."
Le Bris believes that Le Fée can still improve moving forward, citing his commitment behind the scenes and his willingness to keep learning.
"He was an important signing for sure, because he's really smart and connected with our identity," Le Bris said.
"It's not easy to find a player like that. He's able to play in different positions, always committed out of possession and in possession. He's intelligent, so he connects really well with his teammates. He's a really good player. He's good, but he still has room for improvement, for sure, because he wants to learn. That means anything is possible."
Sunderland are hopeful that the 26-year-old will be back close to full fitness after the current break and in contention to start against Tottenham Hotspur at the Stadium of Light on April 12th. Having been an unused sub against Newcastle United, Nordi Mukiele could also be in contention to return to the starting XI alongside goalkeeper Robin Roefs and left back Reinildo, who like Le Fée played a role as a very late impact sub in the derby.
Continue Reading