Sunderland could axe Ekwah by unleashing their 7/10 “genius” instead

With this talent joining Sunderland, the club hopes to put their poor form behind them.

Mike Dodds, who replaced Michael Beale as temporary manager, has struggled to revive Sunderland.

If Sunderland loses against Southampton today, the stand-in 37-year-old Black Cats manager would have lost four Championship games in a row, causing them to fall farther down the division.

A win over Russell Martin‘s Saints might significantly improve the club’s prospects, prompting Dodds to consider potential moves to initiate a positive trend.

Pierre Ekwah, an ex-West Ham United prospect, was not at his best in his side’s 1-0 loss to Leicester City in midweek, and he could be on the chopping block for fresh blood to start tomorrow.

Pierre Ekwah’s performance against Leicester in numbers

The 22-year-old midfielder underwhelmed against Enzo Maresca’s Foxes, failing to register a single shot on Mads Hermansen’s goal and adding to his season tally of four goals.

Furthermore, Ekwah failed to provide a single accurate cross or execute a single dribble in the 1-0 defeat, as the hosts – without the Sunderland number 39 – struggled to cut through the table-topping visitors with much purpose or energy.

Dodds may be inclined to remain with Ekwah despite his bad performance last match, given his exploits the last time the Black Cats met Southampton.

Sunderland defeated the tough South Coast opponents 5-0 at the Stadium of Light, with the ex-Hammers youngster scoring twice. This was the Mackems’ first win in the last five meetings between the two former Premier League sides.

Regardless, Ekwah should not be retained just on the basis of his bad performance against Leicester, with Adil Aouchiche eager to step in and impress over his fellow compatriot following an impressive cameo off the bench against the Foxes.

Adil Aouchiche’s performance against Leicester in numbers

The former Paris St. Germain prospect has had a stop-start experience at the Stadium of Light since switching France for Wearside last year. He will aim to kick on after succeeding against Maresca’s men when pulled in to make an impact.

Aouchiche made three vital passes in 30 minutes against Leicester, demonstrating his desire to create opportunities from the start.

The swift 5 foot 11 midfielder was unafraid to test Hermansen with shot after shot, in contrast to a cautious Ekwah who managed zero. He registered five shots on the Danish goalkeeper’s net to keep him on his toes as other players took a back seat.

Despite his brief appearance, Roker Report columnist Andy Tomlinson gave Aouchiche a 7/10 rating and stated that the ex-PSG player “really troubled” Leicester.

Jacek Kulig, a football talent scout, referred to Aouchiche as a “little genius” during his time in the France U17 ranks, when he scored 16 goals in 25 games. Dodds hopes to see Aouchiche’s dynamic performance continue throughout the 90-minute encounter.

Today’s game could be the biggest opportunity to see what the 21-year-old is capable of from the start, a potential masterstroke move from Dodds if the explosive French talent can lead Sunderland to a rare victory.

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