REGIS Le Bris has played down Ahmed Abdullahi's latest injury setback, saying the Sunderland striker just needs time as he continues his battle to resume full fitness after his surgery at the start of the season.
Abdullahi still hasn't featured for the first team this season after undergoing surgery on a groin problem as soon as he joined the club in the summer.
He did resume training at the end of last year and played for the Under-21s, scoring a hat-trick for Graeme Murty's side against Huddersfield Town. But Le Bris revealed last week the 20-year-old had suffered another setback.
Outlining the striker's situation, Le Bris said on Monday: "Ahmed struggled with this injury. The injury is solved now but there have been some ups and downs with the pain.
"The surgery was fine, successful, but sometimes there was a reaction to the load of the training sessions.
"He just he needs time. He is not yet ready to train with us, he just needs time. I would like a third striker for sure, but we will wait."
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Jayden Danns is not yet ready to link up with Sunderland and continues to receive treatment at Liverpool on his back problem.
The injury was detected during his Sunderland medical ahead of completing his loan move in deadline day in the January transfer window.
Le Bris said: "With Jayden, there is no update at the moment."
Meanwhile, Le Bris echoed sporting director Kristjaan Speakman in saying Jewison Bennette needed to move on in search of regular football after the winger joined Ukrainian side FC LNZ Cherkasy on a permanent deal.
Le Bris said: "Jewi is a good player, a talented player. But in this pathway I think he was this season too far from the level expected for this team.
"He needs time and experiences, so I think it was a good opportunity for him to get minutes. Sometimes a young player needs an extra layer between the steps [from youth to senior football] and I think this is the case for Jewison."
