The 19-year-old scored twice as Sunderland secured their second league win, potentially solidifying his role as Le Bris’ top striker. Striker has been a persistent issue for Sunderland, with their inability to sign a reliable goalscorer last season contributing to a 16th-place finish. With the new Championship campaign underway and no new striker signed, concerns were high. However, Mayenda’s performance on Sunday may have reassured fans that they already have a capable goalscorer in their squad, potentially resolving their attacking problems.
Eliezer Mayenda could fix Sunderland’s striker problems
19-year-old Mayenda had a challenging debut season at Sunderland after joining from Sochaux, including an injury that delayed his debut until November. His stint on loan at Hibernian in Scotland was also difficult, with no goals in four appearances. Despite these setbacks, Mayenda has been given a chance by Le Bris to lead the attack and has shown promise. He played 72 minutes against Cardiff City on the opening weekend and scored twice against Sheffield Wednesday, including a well-taken long-range shot and a crucial tap-in, which should boost his confidence moving forward.
The 19-year-old Spanish youth international was highly regarded before joining Sunderland, and his performance on Sunday showcased his potential. With consistent starting opportunities, Mayenda has the chance to keep improving and become a regular goalscorer. His brace against Sheffield Wednesday could mark a pivotal moment in his Sunderland career, generating optimism among supporters for his future contributions.
Sunderland can’t afford another season without a prolific striker
The 2023/24 campaign was a miserable one for Sunderland’s strikers, and in total their four strikers scored a combined total of just three goals.
| Sunderland’s striker stats, 2023-24 season -As Per Transfermarkt | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Played | Goals | Assissts |
| Nazariy Rusyn | 22 | 2 | 1 |
| Mason Burstow | 20 | 1 | 1 |
| Eliezer Mayenda | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Luis Semedo | 23 | 0 | 0 |
Mayenda’s two goals yesterday highlight the challenges Sunderland faced last season without a reliable striker. Despite surviving relegation relatively comfortably, the team struggled with consistent goal-scoring. Mason Burstow, who contributed one goal before returning to Chelsea and joining Hull City, has left, but Mayenda, Naz Rusyn, and Luis Semedo remain.
Mayenda has already matched Rusyn’s tally from last season and scored twice as many goals as Semedo since his arrival from Benfica. While Semedo and Mayenda were signed with future potential in mind, their failure to score last season was unexpected. With Mayenda’s promising start, he could become the top scorer at Sunderland if he scores just one more goal. After a tough first season, he seems poised to be a key player and provide the regular goalscoring Sunderland needs.
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