REGIS LE BRIS has told Eliezer Mayenda to focus on his development as a central striker, even though he has admitted he would consider playing the Spanish youngster in a wide position alongside Wilson Isidor.

Mayenda spent the first couple of months of the season playing as Sunderland’s ‘number nine’, but lost his place in the side when he suffered a muscular injury in the middle of last month.

During his spell on the sidelines, Isidor has established himself as the Black Cats’ first-choice striker, scoring four goals in the last six games.

Mayenda has completed his recovery from injury and is set to return to the squad for tomorrow’s game at QPR, but the 19-year-old Spaniard is expected to be on the bench with Isidor continuing in the starting line-up.

Le Bris insists the pair could play together in the same team, but given Mayenda’s lack of senior experience, he would prefer for the teenager to continue to think of himself as a central striker rather than a more versatile attacker.

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“It is possible that they could play together,” said Le Bris, whose side head into the weekend with a five-point lead at the top of the Championship. “We have spoken about this during the week.

“But Eliezer is still a young player and he did very well as a striker, so I think this will be his main option. It's an option of course because he is quick, strong and can dribble.”

Mayenda scored two goals in his six appearances at the start of the season, and looked to have improved significantly from last term.

Le Bris was impressed with the youngster’s progress in the first couple of months of the campaign, and will be looking to help Mayenda develop further by focusing on his work on the training pitches at the Academy of Light.

“The first part is always his main strength, and (they are trying to) build on this,” said Le Bris. “For Eliezer, for example, his hold-up play was very good.

“We saw him start to run in behind more and he was very connected to defend with the team. And we saw he is a good finisher.

“This is the minimum, and then with repetition, with games, he can develop. He’s a good striker.”