Sunderland have suffered from some topsy-turvy form of late, but Regis Le Bris will know that the opportunity to complete a Premier League double over Newcastle United this weekend could prove the springboard needed.
While Sunderland came flying out the gates this season, they've lost some of their intensity and verve of late. Still, the 40-point mark has been hit and with eight games to spare.
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And now, after a recent period of absence due to injury, Granit Xhaka fit and ready to string together some starts.
Granit Xhaka's importance for Sunderland
Described as "the signing of the season" by pundit Micah Richards, there's simply no argument against Xhaka being one of the most influential players in the Premier League.
The 33-year-old arrived from Bayer Leverkusen for an initial £13m fee last summer, and he's been the difference-maker in the fight against relegation.
In fact, there has been no fight against relegation for the Black Cats have never been endangered, spending money the right way last summer while retaining the core of their squad from last year, that promotion-winning squad.
Age has not diminished his powers, with the Swiss skipper the driving force for a Sunderland side who have done enough to stave off the pull of relegation back down into the Championship with relative ease.
Xhaka's Recent PL Seasons
Stats
Matches (starts)
Goals + Assists
Touches
Accurate passes*
Big chances created
Key passes*
Possession lost*
Dribbles*
Recoveries*
Tackles + interceptions*
Clearances*
Duels won*
Xhaka's got a few more years at the Stadium of Light, but he's no spring chicken and this leader isn't going to be there forever.
However, Le Bris might already have the next version of the all-action midfielder under his wing.
Le Bris has already found the next Xhaka
In Trai Hume, Sunderland might already have their next leader, someone who can take the proverbial baton from Xhaka and keep Sunderland hitting the high notes in the Premier League over the next several years.
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Trai Hume
Hume, 24, has completed 164 appearances for Sunderland since arriving from Linfield for just £200k in 2022. Now he is one of Le Bris's most trusted lieutenants, starting 28 matches in the top flight this term after an instrumental goal in getting the Black Cats to that coveted frontier.
With Xhaka sidelined through injury over the past couple of months, Hume has worn the armband, and his pride in doing so has radiated onto the field, underscoring his connection with the club, a natural bond despite arriving for a transfer fee.
The Northern Ireland international is an industrious and dynamic player, able to compete across the backline. He is the real deal, and someone who could succeed Xhaka as full-time skipper down the line.
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This is, after all, a "warrior" of a full-back, as Hume was described by Le Bris during their promotion push last season. This season, he has averaged 4.9 duels per game, winning 56% of his battles.
There's a reason that Sunderland are so respected as a defensive force this season. Le Bris has created a well-oiled machine, and the sum of that machine is greater than its parts. Even so, Hume is a top proponent of the system, someone who intrinsically understands the methods applied.
Only last month, the boss remarked that Hume is a "leader" who "epitomises" what it means to play football on Wearside. He is a product of hard work, and he has fallen in love with this city in recent years.
Sunderland, in turn, adores their adopted son, a player who seems destined to take the captaincy from Xhaka some day.
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