Competition for places is 'good problem' - Le Bris

Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris says competition for places in his team's forward line is a "good problem to have", ahead of the Championship leaders' trip to Queens Park Rangers on Saturday.

Eliezer Mayenda - who started the season as the club's main striker before picking up an injury in September - is fit enough to be selected again.

But fellow striker Wilson Isidor has four goals in six league games, while Aaron Connolly and Nazariy Rusyn are also pushing to play.

"It is a good problem for me and a good problem for the team to have that level of competition," Le Bris told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"Eliezer is ok, he is ready to play, he did very well in the first part of the season and was very important for us.

Sunderland won four out of their five Championship matches in October.

They went five points clear of second-placed Burnley last weekend, helped by Isidor scoring a brilliantly-placed volley in their 2-0 victory at home to Oxford United.

Connolly came on as a late substitute, while Rusyn remained on the bench.

"We have to find the right level [of competition], if it is too much, some of the players won't be involved and we will lose them," Le Bris said.

"But at the minute, it is not the case.

"It is the right level of frustration when you don't play and you know that it is possible, but it's not the right moment," he added.

Aside from the fight for places up front, Le Bris has defender Daniel Ballard close to coming back from a knee injury.

He is also hoping that sidelined goalkeeper Anthony Patterson will return soon, but Simon Moore is again expected to start against QPR.

"We have to wait. It's not too serious but it depends on pain," said Le Bris on Patterson.

"He wasn't able to train this week but maybe next week it will be possible.

Patterson has kept six clean sheets in the 11 Championship games he has played this season, with Moore doing the same in his sole league appearance against Oxford.