Sunderland have suffered from some topsy-turvy kind of late, however Regis Le Bris will know that the chance to finish a Premier League double over Newcastle United this weekend might show the springboard wanted.
While Sunderland got here flying out the gates this season, they’ve misplaced some of their depth and verve of late. Still, the 40-point mark has been hit and with eight video games to spare.
And now, after a current interval of absence as a consequence of damage, Granit Xhaka match and able to string collectively some begins.
Granit Xhaka’s significance for Sunderland
Described as “the signing of the season” by pundit Micah Richards, there’s merely no argument towards Xhaka being one of probably the most influential gamers within the Premier League.
The 33-year-old arrived from Bayer Leverkusen for an preliminary £13m charge final summer time, and he is been the difference-maker within the combat towards relegation.
In truth, there was no combat towards relegation for the Black Cats have by no means been endangered, spending cash the best approach final summer time whereas retaining the core of their squad from final yr, that promotion-winning squad.
Age has not diminished his powers, with the Swiss skipper the driving pressure for a Sunderland facet who’ve accomplished sufficient to stave off the pull of relegation again down into the Championship with relative ease.
Xhaka’s Recent PL Seasons | ||
|---|---|---|
Stats | 22/23 | 25/26 |
Matches (begins) | 37 (36) | 26 (24) |
Goals + Assists | 7 + 7 | 1 + 5 |
Touches | 53.5 | 64.2 |
Accurate passes* | 36.7 (86%) | 41.4 (83%) |
Big probabilities created | 6 | 7 |
Key passes* | 1.3 | 1.0 |
Possession misplaced* | 8.6 | 12.5 |
Dribbles* | 0.4 (62%) | 0.3 (39%) |
Recoveries* | n/a | 4.7 |
Tackles + interceptions* | 1.3 | 2.2 |
Clearances* | 1.1 | 2.8 |
Duels gained* | 3.4 (53%) | 4.7 (61%) |
Xhaka’s received a number of extra years on the Stadium of Light, however he is no spring rooster and this chief is not going to be there perpetually.
However, Le Bris would possibly have already got the next version of the all-action midfielder beneath his wing.
Le Bris has already discovered the next Xhaka
In Trai Hume, Sunderland would possibly have already got their next chief, somebody who can take the proverbial baton from Xhaka and hold Sunderland hitting the excessive notes within the Premier League over the next a number of years.
Hume, 24, has accomplished 164 appearances for Sunderland since arriving from Linfield for simply £200k in 2022. Now he is one of Le Bris’s most trusted lieutenants, beginning 28 matches within the prime flight this time period after an instrumental purpose in getting the Black Cats to that coveted frontier.
With Xhaka sidelined via damage over the previous couple of months, Hume has worn the armband, and his pleasure in doing so has radiated onto the sector, underscoring his reference to the membership, a pure bond regardless of arriving for a switch charge.
The Northern Ireland worldwide is an industrious and dynamic participant, in a position to compete throughout the backline. He is the actual deal, and somebody who might succeed Xhaka as full-time skipper down the road.
This is, in spite of everything, a “warrior” of a full-back, as Hume was described by Le Bris throughout their promotion push final season. This season, he has averaged 4.9 duels per recreation, profitable 56% of his battles.
There’s a motive that Sunderland are so revered as a defensive pressure this season. Le Bris has created a well-oiled machine, and the sum of that machine is larger than its elements. Even so, Hume is a prime proponent of the system, somebody who intrinsically understands the strategies utilized.
Only final month, the boss remarked that Hume is a “leader” who “epitomises” what it means to play soccer on Wearside. He is a product of laborious work, and he has fallen in love with this metropolis lately.
Sunderland, in flip, adores their adopted son, a participant who appears destined to take the captaincy from Xhaka some day.
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