news-engine

The 6 fringe Sunderland players who could benefit from RC Lens trip Sunderland face RC Lens in a friendly this weekend... Sunderland travel to RC Lens this weekend as they continue their preseason preparations. The Black Cats head to France off the back of their US tour, and while the clash will provide several first team players with an opportunity to get vital minutes in their legs, it will also represent a chance for a number of fringe talents to impress. Here’s a closer look at some of the players who could benefit... Jenson Seelt Unlike a number of his teammates, who feel undeniably destined for an exit over the coming weeks, Seelt’s future on Wearside is perhaps a little less cut and dry. The centre-back is presumably a likely candidate to leave Sunderland - whether that’s on loan or as part of a permanent agreement - but with the Black Cats seemingly in need of cover at the heart of defence, could an impressive preseason convince the relevant decision-makers to keep him around for a while longer? Romaine Mundle With Chemsdine Talbi and Nilson Angulo ahead of him in the pecking order out on the left flank, Mundle’s position at the Stadium of Light feels a little precarious. Having already been linked with an exit at various points in recent months, and given the club’s willingness to allow their young talent to pursue opportunities elsewhere for the sake of their own personal development, a departure could be on the cards, but Mundle will no doubt be eager to prove that he still has something to offer in red and white. Jocelin Ta Bi After visa issues prevented him from travelling to the United States with the rest of his teammates, Ta Bi will be desperate to use this weekend’s trip to Lens as a springboard for his own first team ambitions. With the Black Cats crying out for an attack-minded right-sided option, the Ivorian has a real opportunity to stake a claim for regular minutes this coming term. Simon Adingra It feels improbable that Adingra will stay at Sunderland long enough to properly feature this season, but that doesn’t mean that he can’t use the Black Cats’ friendly schedule as a chance to prove to potential suitors that he has plenty to offer. The winger impressed against Leeds United in the US, and will be hoping to do so again in France. The Echo has launched a new WhatsApp SAFC Channel to bring the latest news, analysis and team & injury updates direct to your phone. Simply click this link to join our SAFC WhatsApp channel. Alan Browne Likewise, Browne will be keen to give a good account of himself as the prospect of a broadly anticipated move away from Sunderland looms ever larger. Then again, with so many games to navigate over the coming months, is there still an outside chance that he could stay on Wearside as a covering option in the centre of the park? The smart money says no, but stranger things have happened... Anthony Patterson There are more than a few Sunderland fans who would like to see Patterson stick around as Robin Roefs’ understudy between the sticks this season. Given his desire for first team football that feels like quite an unlikely outcome at this stage, but that doesn’t mean that he can’t look to impress if he is afforded minutes against Lens. Your next Sunderland read: Transfer news: Sunderland in talks to sign Sporting CP attacker with £51m release clause