ELIEZER Mayenda looks set to again lead the line for Sunderland against Sheffield Wednesday tomorrow, with Regis Le Bris of the opinion that Nazariy Rusyn is currently best used as a substitute who can make an impact from the bench.

Mayenda got the nod for the opening day win at Cardiff City and with the Black Cats having not yet landed a striker as their transfer efforts continue, the teenager will keep his place for Sunday's visit of the Owls (noon kick-off).

Le Bris has seen improvement in Mayenda since his arrival as head coach and confirmed the 19-year-old is currently top of his striker pecking order.

That will likely change if and when a new signing arrives in the next couple of weeks, but Mayenda is clearly going to play a key role for the Black Cats this season.

Last year, Mayenda was deemed not quite ready for Championship football and spent the second half of the season out on loan.

With Sunderland struggling to get goals from their strikers, Jobe Bellingham was often used as the No.9. But there'll be no repeat this season, with Le Bris revealing he has no plans to use the former Birmingham City youngster in a centre-forward role.

He said: "The option is I think with Eliezer and Naz, who are able to be specialists in this position.

"For me, at the moment, Jobe is a midfielder who can play as a second striker but a midfielder in possession.

"I think this is his best position and I think the team will be better all round with Jobe in that position. The strikers available at the moment are improving.

"Eliezer didn't score at Cardiff but I can see him improving between the games. He needs opportunities to develop and his personality is very good, he wants to improve.

"We always think about the end of the process but the beginning sometimes, you don't always succeed but if you work hard then after 10, 20 games, it becomes different. Jobe, for example, is at a different level now. We always need time."

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Rusyn started for Sunderland in the midweek Carabao Cup defeat at Preston but hasn't done enough to force his way into Le Bris' first choice XI as things stand.

"The head coach always needs to choose and I think at the moment, I think Eliezer is the best starter," said Le Bris.

"Naz is very energetic, runs a lot - I think his abilities are best [from the bench]. I like this combination, with Eliezer as the first one."

Le Bris is looking forward to his first taste of the Stadium of Light tomorrow, but knows his side are in for a tough test.

Wednesday enjoyed a storming finish to last season, securing safety on the last day on Wearside, and have picked up where they left off under highly-rated boss Danny Rohl, thumping Plymouth on the opening weekend.

Le Bris said: "It will be a good test, yes. I watched their game against Plymouth and they were interesting, a very powerful team.

"They're very interesting down the sides, especially the right side with Yan Valery. I know this player who played at Angers last season.

"I'm excited to play in the stadium for the first time, to feel the support of the fans who are incredible. At home, we need to show that we deserve these fans and to use them as a big strength, to build this feeling that at home we are strong and powerful, that we can win many games."

SUNDERLAND PROBABLE XI: Patterson, Hume, O'Nien, Alese, Cirkin; Neil, Browne, Bellingham; Roberts, Clarke, Mayenda