"Look at Ipswich Town" - Jeremie Aliadiere issues Sunderland AFC promotion prediction | OneFootball

FLW spoke exclusively to ex-Boro favourite Jeremie Aliadiere about all things Sunderland and Regis Le Bris.

Sunderland have enjoyed an impressive start to life under new boss Regis Le Bris and sit top of the Championship table during the international break and Jeremie Aliadiere is unsurprised at their start to the season, having won 19 points from nine games.

Despite the loss of Jack Clarke late on in the window, Sunderland fans were full of optimism about what the season might hold, with a new dawn beginning under Le Bris at the Stadium of Light.

That's following an underwhelming season of stagnation in the second tier in finishing 16th in the league last season. There were bound to be a number of changes behind the scenes at the Stadium of Light and the French head coach was perhaps the most significant acquisition of all.

Many fans and pundits alike believe that a lack of experience has cost them in their rapid progress out of League One and into the Championship. That issue, mixed with poor managerial choices, conspired to see Sunderland finish worse off than many expected in 2023/24, but it is fair to say that they were never far off being an extremely competitive team in the second tier once again.

A few extra senior heads, with a player like Alan Browne aiding he likes of Luke O'Nien immensely in that sense combined with more stability in the dugout in Le Bris, has seen the Black Cats begin the campaign in scintillating form. The Black Cats sit top of the Championship right now, with the Frenchman having made an immediate impact since his summer arrival.

Jeremie Aliadiere's Sunderland promotion verdict under Regis Le Bris

Prior to Le Bris' arrival, the club had had four permanent managers in two years, and they were very much in need of the next boss to take a young squad to the next level. The appointment of Le Bris has also brought some much-needed stability, which the club lacked towards the back end of last season, when they were managerless for months.

Their start to the league season has, naturally, also brought a new wave of positivity among the fanbase. Le Bris is also catching the eye of other famous faces within the world of football. Jeremie Aliadiere may still fondly remembered by many of a Boro persuasion, but he may find himself popular in a different part of the North East after predicting a strong season for Sunderland.

Aliadiere crossed paths with Le Bris at Lorient when the former was in the twilight years of his playing career and the latter was the director of the French club's academy. He had plenty of kind words to say about Le Bris after he has found the winning formula during his early days as Black Cats boss.

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, via William Hill Vegas, he said: “It doesn't surprise me.

“He is an excellent coach, with a calm way about him and I can imagine he gets his message across very clear to his players.

“I can see his players want to play for him and this bodes well for Sunderland. He has excellent ideas and I would think training is good for the lads and this can be replicated on the pitch.

“There is no reason they can't get promoted — as just look at Ipswich Town and how they did last season.”

Sunderland's potential under Regis Le Bris

It's not altogether surprising that a young core with a new manager, and a few extra quality senior heads within the playing squad, has seen the Black Cats jump from mid-table into the promotion race fairly quickly so far this season. Heading into 2024/25, Sunderland were one of the most interesting projects in the EFL.

It already appears as though they could well be in for a season more akin to 2022/23 than the disappointment of 2023/24. The positive for Le Bris and co. was that they had a side full of pre-peak players; there was every chance a handful of them hit another level in terms of their personal improvement as players.

If enough of them hit a steep development curve, then that is all that is required from just a few of them to raise the floor level of the squad up a notch, and turn the performances around. However, the Black Cats' most admirable quality is their ability in front of goal, as they have scored 18 this season, which is more than any other team in the second tier.

That's even without their key attacker over the last few seasons in Clark, and although it's unclear whether the Black Cats will be able to retain their place at the top end of the division for the entire campaign, considering they lack experience in their squad, there is every chance they will compete for promotion with a number of young talents relishing the opportunity to flourish on Wearside under Le Bris.