Sunderland needed clarity Regis Le Bris brings as Black Cats legend hails new boss

Kevin Phillips has been hugely impressed by Sunderland under their new French coach

Legendary Sunderland striker Kevin Phillips has described new head coach Regis Le Bris as “a revelation”. The newly appointed head coach of AFC Fylde, now 51, was speaking about his former club on Sky Sports when he discussed the impact the Frenchman has made since his arrival on Wearside.

“I’ve spent quite a lot of time up there this season,” said Phillips. “As you can imagine they are very passionate about their football up there and with what Newcastle have achieved in the last few years Sunderland needed something and certainly this season, with the new manager being appointed, they’ve got it.

Phillips, who scored 130 goals in 235 appearances for Sunderland between 1997 and 2003, added: “With the new manager being appointed, eyebrows were raised because no one knew anything about him. But I have to say he’s been a revelation since he's come to the club.

“The performances back that up. He is very different from what they’ve had before. He’s very analytical in his work, he’s very methodical, he’s not a ranter and raver from what I hear. He sits back in training, he doesn’t get involved too much in the day-to-day sessions but he brings clarity to the club. The messages are very simple to the players and you can see that in their play.”

He continued: “They’ve had a fantastic start. Did I ever see them having the start they had? No. Because they are a very young side, the youngest side in the league. Playing in front of a packed crowd every other week comes with pressure and they have raised their levels so credit to them. It’s going to be a long season but let everyone get carried away that's for sure.”

Phillips has been particularly impressed with Romain Mundle since the departure of Jack Clarke.

“This lad on the wing has been excellent,” he said. “Since Jack Clarke has gone he took his opportunity and he has been a major threat. And every player has stepped up. There’s a youthfulness, there’s no fear, the training they all give 100 per cent, they enjoy the training methods and that’s new to them this season, a different voice in the dressing room.”

Can Sunderland achieve promotion? “I think it will be very difficult,” said Phillips. “But in the Championship you want to start well and be in and around it and Sunderland have done that.”