Sunderland take on Coventry City at the CBS Arena looking to draw a line under a run of six games without a victory and claim a positive result to take back to Wearside ahead of next Tuesday’s second-leg decider.
Le Bris’ main pre-game selection dilemma comes in attack, where he must decide whether to start with Isidor, who has been the first-choice striker for most of the season but who is on a run of 13 games without a goal, or Eliezer Mayenda, who has scored four fewer goals over the course of the season but who started last weekend’s final league game against QPR.
The Sunderland boss’ selection will be influenced by the make-up of the rest of the side, with Le Fee set to start in a wide-attacking position on the left as Romaine Mundle is not yet fit enough to be considered for a starting spot.
Le Fee and Roberts are set to fill the wide-attacking slots, a scenario which Le Bris feels plays to Isidor’s strengths.
“We’ll see who starts,” said the Black Cats head coach. “First of all, we have two good strikers and this is good news. Two young strikers, one very young and one still young.
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“They are two different strikers, and it depends on the balance of the team – we always need threats in behind.
“Sometimes, if we play with Pat and Enzo out wide, we need a striker whose style is to run in behind to manage and stretch the lines.
“I think Wilson’s style fits these circumstances, Eli can do this, but he’s a little different, he likes the ball into feet and he can dribble. He’s not exactly the same profile.”
Le Bris will weigh up a number of different factors before making his final decision, although he insists he is not worried by Isidor’s lengthy run without a goal. The French forward last found the net in the defeat at Leeds United in mid-February.
“It’s a question of form, but also of balance,” he added. “Both can run, but at one time, one might be a little tired. Or one opponent might be strong against one style, like for example, I think QPR were a very good style against Enzo.
“So, it’s a balance and a feeling from the training sessions, but we need someone to stretch the lines.”
