Sunderland head coach Régis Le Bris has urged patience as Ghanaian midfielder Salis Abdul Samed works his way back to full fitness following a six-month injury layoff.

The 24-year-old finally made his debut for the Black Cats in their 2-1 FA Cup defeat to Stoke City on Saturday, January 11, 2025. Samed, who joined Sunderland on a season-long loan from Ligue 1 side RC Lens, had been sidelined for nearly five months before stepping onto the pitch for his new club.

Despite Sunderland’s exit from the competition, Le Bris expressed relief at Samed’s return and praised his performance. “It’s great to have Salis back after such a long injury. He’ll need time to reach his best level, but today was a good step forward,” the coach said.

Samed showed glimpses of his quality during the game but was involved in a critical moment of misfortune. A misplaced back pass in extra time allowed Stoke’s Niall Ennis to score the winning goal, ending Sunderland’s FA Cup run.

While the result was disappointing, Samed’s return brings optimism to Sunderland, who are focused on their Championship promotion campaign. Fans and the coaching staff will hope to see the experienced Ghana international rediscover his top form in the weeks to come.