Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris has expressed confidence in winger Romaine Mundle’s potential while acknowledging that the 23-year-old has areas to develop before establishing himself as a consistent Premier League player. Mundle, who joined Sunderland from Standard Liege two years ago and previously spent time with Tottenham’s youth setup, has faced challenges including recurring hamstring injuries that limited him to 52 appearances.

Mundle’s form has been inconsistent, highlighted by a high-profile miss in a February league match against Fulham. With the game goalless, Mundle had a clear chance to score but missed a close-range shot, after which Fulham went on to win 3-1. Sunderland were the only team to suffer home and away defeats by Fulham in the previous season. This miss drew significant criticism on social media, and Mundle did not feature again for the remainder of last campaign. Many speculated that he might leave the club, but Sunderland recently offered him a new contract, signaling continued faith in his abilities.

Le Bris praised Mundle’s natural talent, describing him as possessing the “X-factor” and commending his finishing ability and performances in training. “As a left winger, he is a really good finisher,” the French coach said. However, Le Bris emphasized that raw ability alone does not suffice at the Premier League level, noting that Mundle needs time to mature and diversify his skills. “You need time to become more mature, more well-rounded and add different layers. We need to support him. But he has this potential,” Le Bris added.

While Mundle is anticipated to be on the bench for upcoming fixtures, Le Bris highlighted the progress of another young player, 19-year-old midfielder Chris Rigg, who is pushing for a starting role. The manager referenced Rigg’s development over the last season, citing improved maturity, confidence, and on-field presence. “Often, you can be exactly the same shape but when you are more confident, you look bigger, you look sharper and you look quicker,” Le Bris said. “That is the case with Rigg. He has been a really good substitute and this season he might start soon.”

Sunderland’s squad dynamics appear to be evolving as they prepare for the new season, with Le Bris balancing the integration of experienced players like Mundle with the emergence of promising talents such as Rigg.