Which players make it into Sunderland’s strongest starting XI?
Headaches are not exactly a new phenomena on Wearside, but it is still quite the novelty for Sunderland to find themselves with pleasant ones.
An ambitious summer of recruitment and an unexpectedly smooth transition into life back in the Premier League has left Regis Le Bris with plenty of options and plenty of players knocking on the door for a regular starting role.
But with the January transfer now behind them and the second half of the season stretching out before them, what is the Black Cats’ strongest XI when everybody is fit and available? We’ve taken a closer look below...
Robin Roefs
A monstrously successful addition to Sunderland’s ranks since his arrival on Wearside over the summer, Roefs has not only established himself as the Black Cats’ de facto number one, but arguably one of the most impressive goalkeepers in the Premier League to boot. The Dutchman is a dependable presence with a penchant for spectacular feats of shot-stopping, and the consensus is that Kristjaan Speakman and his recruitment team have unearthed a real gem.
Nordi Mukiele
Whether he’s fending off frequent aerial bombardments at the heart of defence or marauding away down the right flank from a posting at full-back, Mukiele continues to be a consistently stellar performer for Sunderland. His experience and full-bloodedness have been vital assets this term.
Dan Ballard
More than any other member of Sunderland’s promotion-winning squad, Ballard has made the step up to the Premier League look relatively comfortable. Physically dominant, constantly alive to danger, and an absolute menace in both boxes, the centre-back is truly thriving.
Omar Alderete
So laidback that it can occasionally border on the unbelievable, Alderete is as classy in possession as he is adept at thwarting opposition attackers. Another who, with each passing week, makes his relatively modest price tag look like more and more of a heist.
Reinildo Mandava
These are still early days, but already there is an argument to be made for Reinildo being one of the best full-backs to ever pull on a Sunderland jersey. Omnipresent, combative, and absolutely tireless, it is hard to believe that he arrived at the Stadium of Light on a free transfer.
Granit Xhaka
At a certain point, you risk exhausting the superlatives. Xhaka has, quite simply, been a revelation for Sunderland. A metronomic Captain Fantastic who dictates games from the base of midfield, frequently turns provider for those ahead of him, and has broadly embodied a general upswing in standards on Wearside, the Swiss veteran will surely go down as a modern legend if he continues on his current trajectory.
Noah Sadiki
An unknown entity to many prior to his summer arrival, Sadiki has quickly staked his claim as one of the most prodigious midfield talents in the Premier League. It is no exaggeration to suggest that he has very probably - and quite literally - covered every blade of grass on that Stadium of Light pitch at one point or another this season, and the biggest compliment you can pay him is that he felt nigh-on irreplaceable when he left for the better part of a month to take part in the African Cup of Nations. A truly special prospect.
Enzo Le Fée
Enzo Le Fée is very good at football. Like, very, very good at football. There was a time earlier in the season when the Frenchman was struggling to force his way into Regis Le Bris’ starting XI, and when he did play, he often found himself deployed out on the left flank. Fast forward to the present, however, and he feels utterly indispensable in his preferred central berth. So creative, so technically proficient, so guileful - it is absolutely astounding that the Black Cats managed to sign him while they were still in the Championship.
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Habib Diarra
The right wing represents an ongoing conundrum for Sunderland, and is arguably the first position in our XI that could spark widespread - and justifiable - debate. Bertrand Traore looked to have made the spot his own before AFCON and injury halted his momentum, and Trai Hume deserves an immense amount of credit for the admirable job that he has done for the most part in an unfamiliar role. But could we see Diarra given the nod out wide on a regular basis between now and the end of the season? The club record signing is too good to omit from the first team, but may well struggle to force his way into the centre of midfield ahead of the exemplary Xhaka, Sadiki, and Le Fée. He was a rare bright spark on an otherwise dreary afternoon when introduced out wide during January’s 3-1 defeat against West Ham - could this be a way of squeezing him into the side while also remedying a lingering headache?
Nilson Angulo
Chemsdine Talbi has produced several brilliant moments this season, and looks to be growing stronger and stronger as the weeks tick by. The deadline day acquisition of Angulo from Anderlecht, however, should provide a fresh injection of quality out on the left, and if he can come anywhere close to replicating the 13 goal contributions in 22 Belgian top flight outings he managed this term prior to signing for Sunderland, then he will become very popular, very rapidly on Wearside.
Brian Brobbey
A unique problem and a freakish physical presence, it took Brobbey a little while to get up to speed following his summer transfer from Ajax, but in recent weeks, Sunderland fans have started to see the best of the bullish Dutchman. At the time of writing, he is still yet to encounter a Premier League centre-half who can keep his immense presence comfortably under wraps.
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