LUIS HEMIR’S return to Sunderland’s starting line-up was a reward for his committed displays on the training ground, with Mike Dodds hoping the Portuguese striker continues to prompt him to select him in the team.

Hemir made his first start since the opening game of the season at the weekend, leading the line for 66 minutes against Norwich City before being replaced by Nazariy Rusyn.

The 20-year-old has endured a difficult first season on Wearside, with his involvement being limited to just two starts and 15 substitute appearances despite Sunderland’s chronic lack of success in front of goal.

Hemir has struggled to handle the step into the Championship from the reserve ranks at Benfica, but Dodds has seen enough on the training ground in the last few weeks to suggest he is turning his corner. Hence his promotion to the starting side at Carrow Road.

“To be fair to Hemir, he’s working really, really hard,” said Sunderland’s interim head coach. “If I see the players on the training pitch are all in for the football club, then they’ll get an opportunity. Hemir has done that, so long may that continue.

"I went back and watched all his clips at Benfica and in his defence, it's a completely different style of play. I sat down with him at one point early in the season and we were talking about match loads in terms of distance covered, sprint distance and he just couldn't believe what we were asking him to do.

"In terms of shifting his mentality, that's been really important. He's a good kid and he's desperate to be successful here, and I think he's got the mentality now of having to do those things before he can do the things that he likes.

"What we're asking him to do is very different to his upbringing in football but the one thing I would say is - he can do it."

Whether the youngster remains in the side for this evening’s home game with Leicester City remains to be seen.

Dodds could opt to start with Rusyn or Mason Burstow as his central striker, or could even opt to play without a natural number nine, instead fielding Jobe Bellingham or Abdoullah Ba as the nominal leader of the line.

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Hemir’s superior hold-up play helped get him the nod against Norwich, although Sunderladn hardly created a plethora of chances with him spearheading the attack.

“We changed slightly, in terms of our in-possession stuff, in the game against Norwich, and I just felt we needed a focal point in the game to play off and onto,” explained Dodds. “Hence the reason why we went with Hemir.

“In the main, I felt he did okay. I think he could have had a bit more service. In the first 15 minutes, I think our quality could have been better, but once we settled into the game, we had pockets of play where we looked comfortable in possession, without really damaging them. I just felt, in terms of the way we set up, we needed a focal point.”