Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray has explained that Eliezer Mayenda has suffered a ‘minor setback’ in his recovery.
Mayenda joined the Black Cats at the end of July from French side Sochaux, but has failed to make his competitive debut for the club as of yet due to a recurring hamstring problem.
He picked up the injury in his first training session at the club after joining, but has been back in full training and played in a behind-closed-doors friendly earlier this week.
Mowbray had hinted earlier this week at potentially starting him on Saturday afternoon.
18-year-old suffers ‘minor setback’
Speaking following the 3-1 win over Norwich City, Mowbray said that Mayenda suffered a ‘minor setback’ and did not want to take the gamble to rush him back.
“It’s a very, very, very, minor setback,” Mowbray told the Newcastle Chronicle. “I think he could probably have been on the bench yesterday, but if he is telling the medical department he is feeling his hamstring a little bit – even though he finished the whole training session on Friday – then I make the call.
“I don’t think it is worth it if he is feeling his hamstring a little bit and he is telling the medical department that. Let’s not gamble with it. He’s nearly there, he’s nearly ready.
“He’s done three or four full training sessions, he played 90 minutes of an U21 friendly against Hibs on Monday. He’ll be in and around it over the next week or two, I’m pretty sure of that.
“It just wasn’t worth the gamble of throwing him in yesterday if he is feeling anything, so we left him out.”
Sunderland hoping to get best out of Mayenda
Mayenda has been very unlucky since his arrival at the Stadium of Light.
The 18-year-old is highly rated and is a Spain under-17 international.
He joined on a five-year-deal in the summer, on a wage of £5.3k-a-week, so Sunderland will be hoping to unearth a future star like they have been doing with many other young talents.
