After making notable progress behind the scenes on Wearside, Luis Hemir is expected to see more playing time at Sunderland, according to Mike Dodds.
After leaving Benfica in the summer, the striker has struggled to get consistent playing time, but last weekend’s cameo from the bench against Swansea City gave him a dangerous appearance. According to Dodds, the 20-year-old has been working hard to increase his level of fitness recently, so he does not think the increase in performance is a coincidence. According to Dodds, the striker had a difficult time getting used to the intensity of Championship football but is now starting to realize his potential.
Even though Dodds thinks the striker still has room for improvement in that area, he considers the progress to be very positive and will lead to more opportunities soon. Dodds says he is “definitely” considering starting a game, despite Sunderland having three games in the next seven days.
“He is pushing harder than he probably has done before, so he is definitely in the thinking because we are going to have to use the squad throughout these three games,” Dodds remarked.
“He is a beautiful child first and foremost. He came here in an attempt to further his career, having a strong youth pedigree. The twenty-year-old boy has taken some time to get used to life in England. He traveled here on his own, never having left his home country. Those boys, sometimes all they need is a little time. He is an excellent finisher; he still needs to gain more muscle, but he is made progress in that regard, and I believe that is why his performance has increased in the last few games that he is played. I believe that his performance level is positively correlated with his increasing level of fitness.
“We think very, very highly of him as a football player, but there is still a lot of development in that area, and I have had that conversation with him,” he continued.
“He will be a valuable addition to the football team and will undoubtedly be considered for the upcoming games,”