Isaac Lihadji and Jewison Bennette overcoming communication problems, says Sunderland boss

Isaac Lihadji is quickly getting up to speed with learning English and that should lead to more first-team opportunities, says Tony Mowbray.

Lihadji arrived from French club Lille in January, although unlike compatriots Pierre Ekwah and Abdoullah Ba he did not speak English making communication a problem.

It has been a similar situation with Costa Rican Jewison Bennette who only spoke Spanish when he arrived, although former Sunderland favourite Julio Arca has been helping him learn English and understand the instructions of the club’s coaching team.

Both Lihadji and Bennette were signed as long-term projects, so there has never been any pressure on them to deliver immediately. Both appear to be making strides in overcoming the communication barrier, though.

“Obviously Jewison is not going to play this season anymore, but it’s getting there bit by bit,” Mowbray said.

“Isaac I feel is the least English-speaking of the French kids but there are four or five of them around him now that whenever I want to get a message across it gets to him very quickly.

“It’s just on-pitch stuff sometimes that is difficult, come inside, let your full-back go around the outside or stay wide and let him run inside of you.

“There’s a lot of work going on behind the scenes to try and develop their languages, a lot of lessons. Instead of going home after training, after lunch, he goes in one of these rooms with his English teacher and that will come, I’m sure it will.

“I don’t see it being a major problem moving forward for the club.”

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