Regis Le Bris Must Answer Chemsdine Talbi Sunderland Questions After Snub In Brighton Loss

The situation of Sunderland winger Chemsdine Talbi and his uncertain future at the Stadium of Light took a confusing and disappointing turn during the 2-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday. 

Sunderland fell to a 2-0 defeat against Brighton courtesy of a second-half goal from Maxim De Cuyper and Jaouen Hadjam, with one of the major storylines from the game coming later in the clash. 

With Brighton one goal ahead, centre-back Pascal Struijk was given a red card by referee Thomas Bramall after a quick VAR review for a foul on Wilson Isidor to deny the Sunderland striker a clear goalscoring opportunity, which left the Black Cats chasing the game against the ten-men Seagulls. 

Chants chorused around the Stadium of Light stands calling for winger Chemsdine Talbi, who was in talks with a move to the Saudi Pro League late in the window but ultimately stayed at Sunderland, which went unanswered by Le Bris, who opted for the likes of inexperienced duo Jocelin Ta Bi and debutant Juan Riquelme Angulo. 

Le Bris’ decision not to introduce Talbi as an impact substitute while chasing the Brighton game left the Sunderland faithful with one word on their lips: why?

Following discussions about a prospective move to Al-Ittihad late in the summer transfer window, Sunderland announced that Talbi would remain at the Black Cats ahead of the Carabao Cup clash against Hull City in September. 

Poignantly, the Moroccan starlet started the cup clash at home against the Tigers and went on to score the winning goal with a delightful dink, marking his first goal of the season in his first start and second appearance in all competitions. 

Against Hull, Talbi excelled in a more central role as a second striker, with his pace and technical prowess in the final third making the decisive difference for Le Bris’ side, but peculiarly, the 21-year-old has not featured under the Sunderland boss since. 

Talbi was not employed by Morocco during the international break, and therefore would have been desperate for a return to action after over a month on the sidelines since his Hull heroics, but Le Bris instead introduced young winger Ta Bi and 18-year-old centre-forward prospect Angulo.

As Sunderland searched for an equaliser, it was almost unfathomable that Le Bris would not give the pacey winger minutes when behind against Brighton, as Talbi's pace and dynamism in the final third could have been the difference-maker in the second half, with the Black Cats clearly lacking the attacking impetus they needed.

At the time of the announcement that Talbi would stay at Sunderland after his Saudi switch talks, Sunderland Director of Football Florent Ghisolfi said: "We are very happy...

“And at the end, if he stays, it's because Sunderland and Chemsdine wants to continue together.”

With Sunderland chief Ghisolfi's words in mind, it begs the question as to why Le Bris has continued to exclude the former Club Brugge starlet since his winning display against Hull, and his bold and confusing decision has been heightened by his substitute snub during the Seagulls defeat.

Why has Talbi not been in action since Hull, why was he not brought on against Brighton, and why did Sunderland not cash in on the lucrative Saudi offer if this was going to be the case just weeks later?

Does this now mean that the writing is on the wall for Talbi at Sunderland, that his Black Cats career is over, and that a mid-season departure may materialise, or is there a behind-the-scenes issue between Le Bris and the Moroccan attacker that the Stadium of Light faithful have not seen?

Whatever the case may be, Le Bris' decision in the Brighton loss not to introduce Talbi, and his treatment of the player and the uncertainty regarding his future at Sunderland must be answered.

Don't forget to sign up for FREE. It takes 30 seconds and means you can comment, like, and receive notifications when we post an article! Click JOIN at the top.