Tony Mowbray on new Sunderland signing: 'He is available

Isaac Lihadji is available to make his Sunderland debut against Reading, although fans will have to be patient with him initially.

The winger joined from Lille in January and arrives with a real pedigree from his time in France, although there is a serious language barrier right now.

It is a similar situation to when Jewison Bennette first arrived, but Mowbray believes Lihadji will be an exciting option from the bench for Sunderland in the meantime.

"Isaac is available, his work permit and his registration is through so this is the first game where has been available for us," Mowbray said.

"I'm very conscious that although he's played at a high level and in the Champions League, and he does look very exciting, but he's a young boy and it takes time.

"He doesn't communicate much other than with the young French kids we have in the squad because at this stage he doesn't really have any English.

"He understands when you say his name but beyond that, I need a bit of a help translating!

"So in the short term, he might be someone who we bring on from the bench to see if he can impact the game with the qualities that he's got.

“It's very difficult, though, to plan and prepare for a game with him being in the starting XI at the moment with that barrier. It's something that we will overcome over a long period."

Tony Mowbray on new Sunderland signing: 'He is available - and he looks very exciting'

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