REGIS Le Bris has confirmed Elliot Embleton could leave Sunderland this summer, with a return to Blackpool on the cards.

Embleton previously spent time on loan with the Seasiders and after being left out of the Sunderland squad for Saturday's 2-2 friendly draw with Marseille at Bradford, Le Bris confirmed the exit of the 25-year-old is "possible".

Blackpool boss Neil Critchley was quizzed on Embleton this week and all but confirmed the League One club's interest in the midfielder, who has had rotten luck with injury in the last 18 months.

Pierre Ekwah also missed Sunderland's final friendly of the summer but Le Bris confirmed the former West Ham youngster is set to resume training on Sunday.

The head coach said he'll be available "as soon as possible".

READ MORE:

Le Bris was reluctant to say too much on Sunderland's ongoing striker search, amid Alexandre Mendy releasing a fresh statement on Saturday reiterating his desire to join the Black Cats this summer.

With a week to go until the start of the season, Le Bris only has two strikers he plans to use in Eliezer Mayenda and Nazariy Rusyn, with Sunderland willing to allow Hemir to leave on loan this season. The Portuguese striker wasn't involved at Valley Parade on Saturday.

Asked whether he expects a striker to arrive before next week's opener at Cardiff, Le Bris said: "I don't know. It's possible but I explained before, I work with this team. The work from recruitment is there but I will work with these players and I think they've improved this summer so we'll keep going.

"The coach always wants a better team. I think our job is to be focused on the pitch with the players we have in the dressing room and not other ones."

On the striker search, he added: "We are working on it, it's a process and the transfer window is complex. I spoke to a friend from Marseille, they are searching for a striker, it's the same for everyone."

Mayenda looks set to lead the line at Cardiff and Le Bris has been impressed by the teenager, but admits he's not ready to be Sunderland's main man for the entirety of the season.

He said: "He's a very young player. Now he has a free position so he can play with the team and experience many situations, so it's good for him.

"I'm not sure he's able to fulfil this position for a whole season with our team and ambitions, it might be too much for him. But every experience will be useful for him and he can have an impact."