Sunderland midfielder Enzo Le Fee was in fine form against Manchester United at the weekend, leaving head coach Regis Le Bris elated with his performance.
On Saturday afternoon, Sunderland played out a goalless stalemate at home to third-placed Manchester United, despite the Black Cats having several chances to win.
Noah Sadiki was denied early in the first-half by Senne Lammens, and in the second period, the Red Devils goalkeeper stood strong to deny Brian Brobbey before RB Leipzig loanee Luthsharel Geertruida struck the post.
The Black Cats were in fine form against Michael Carrick’s in-form visitors, with captain Granit Xhaka as assured as ever in the heart of midfield, with Geertruida also performing admirably, meaning Sunderland could be heading for a mistake if they fail to sign the loanee permanently.
As well as those two, Enzo Le Fee was in inspired form against United, with Le Bris sticking with the Frenchman in his favoured central midfield role rather than playing the Frenchman on the left flank as he has done throughout the Premier League campaign.
However, Le Fee’s magical performance against the Red Devils proved why the Sunderland boss must keep the inventive midfielder central heading into the season’s curtain call.
Regis Le Bris must keep Enzo Le Fee in Sunderland’s central midfield
Following his lacklustre 61-minute performance in last month’s 5-0 hammering at home to Nottingham Forest, £30m summer club-record signing from Strasbourg, Habib Diarra, was dropped from Sunderland’s midfield trio and has started on the bench in the Black Cats’ last two outings.
In his place, Le Fee partnered Xhaka and Sadiki in the engine room, and the former Roma man justified his former Lorient boss’ faith on Saturday afternoon.
During Sunderland's 0-0 draw at home to United, the inventive was outstanding in every area of the pitch, making key contributions both in defence and attack.
Despite being more of an attacking-minded player, Le Fee made eight defensive contributions for Sunderland, covering almost every blade of grass on the Stadium of Light pitch in the process.
Additionally, in attack the 26-year-old was typically creative, by setting-up both Chemsdine Talbi and Sadiki in the first-half with chances to break the deadlock, and providing Brobbey with a beautifully-weighted pass in the second 45’ before his shot stung the palms of Lammens.
If Sunderland had more of a clinical edge, which Le Bris wished for after the game, then on another afternoon Le Fee could have had a hat-trick of assists to add to his tally of five so far this season.
In light of his magnificent display against United, labelled as “excellent” by his Black Cats boss post-match, Le Bris must keep Le Fee in the starting XI as the attack-minded midfielder, with his performances far eclipsing those of Diarra this season.
Regis Le Bris discusses Enzo Le Fee plan for rest of Sunderland's season
Thankfully for the Sunderland faithful, that would seem to be Le Bris’ plan for his former Lorient prodigy heading into the season’s penultimate clash at Everton and the final day visit of Chelsea.
"I think our three midfielders were excellent," Le Bris told the Sunderland Echo after the Manchester United draw.
"It was key and we are still building this midfield. They have to stay connected because when they play really close to each other their style and ability to be creative is really excellent."
Le Bris added: “I think it's his best position (central midfield).
"This year we've had different problems on both wings and Enzo has had to play in this position.
"He can do that but it's a different set-up. When he's connected with players like Granit and Noah he can show his best action."
Recent reports have linked reigning champions Liverpool with interest in Le Fee, and his performance against Carrick's side on Saturday showed precisely why the Frenchman would not look out of place in a top-table Premier League side.