Sunderland fans will hope their team gets back to their best when Championship football resumes this weekend, with Regis Le Bris’ Black Cats top of the current second tier pile.
It hasn’t been constant sunshine however at the Stadium of Light, as Le Bris’ side have shown some chinks in their armour, with back-to-back away defeats in the league making for worrying reading as the Wearside outfit prepare for their trip to Hull City this coming Saturday.
To prevent an ego-bruising third straight road loss, the already well-liked Frenchman would just want his players to do better against the Tigers. The former Lorient manager will especially want Jobe Bellingham to step up and be given more credit.
This season, Bellingham’s performance
The Sunderland child wonder, who thrilled the Black Cats supporters with a spectacular seven goals last season while still being a wide-eyed adolescent, has had a rather quiet start to the season.
Although the 19-year-old has only managed one goal and one assist in seven league games this season, his performances have been encouraging to see, despite his productivity somewhat slowing down.
With just two of his 48 passes on the day going against a makeshift Whites midfield, the Sunderland number seven had a very strong performance against Leeds United. He also put three shots on Illan Meslier’s goal.
Bellingham scored his first goal of the season against Derby County in the match prior to this thrilling 2-2 draw. The teenager is eager to return to the field for his Championship employers and score more incredible goals, beginning this weekend when they travel to Tim Walter’s Hull.
A former Sunderland player is actually improving the starlet’s numbers, despite being deeply enmeshed in the latter years of his playing career. Bellingham will strive to improve his 2023–24 output during this arduous campaign ahead, which could lead to his team making a long-awaited return to the Premier League.
The athlete surpassing Bellingham in performance
The former Black Cats winger James McClean is now outperforming Bellingham in the division below, which is astounding given his age of 35.
Eleven years ago, when Sunderland was consistently playing in the top division, McClean was let go by the Wearside team. Paolo Di Canio sold him to Championship team Wigan Athletic for £1 million.
| McClean’s numbers since leaving Sunderland | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Club played for | Games played | Goals scored | Assists |
| Wigan | 171 | 23 | 27 |
| West Bromwich Albion | 112 | 5 | 5 |
| Stoke City | 111 | 12 | 19 |
| Wrexham | 56 | 6 | 14 |
| Sourced by Transfermarkt | |||
In addition to earning 11 goals and six assists in 70 games at the Stadium of Light, McClean would go on to become a household name in the Championship and Premier League with a number of different clubs outside of Wigan.
Even if his playing days are coming to an end, the 104-time Republic of Ireland international has perhaps found new life with Wrexham in the present.
In just one League One match, the seasoned Red Dragons captain helped himself to two goals and an assist as his Welsh team easily defeated Northampton Town 4-1 last time out. Those were Bellingham’s only outstanding league performances to date.
When McClean signed a contract last year, it was a clear coup for the struggling team, and it’s amazing that Wrexham now has Steven Fletcher, another key figure from Sunderland’s recent past, on their books.
If the determined Irishman can continue to play at his best, he may lead his employers to the same division as Sunderland, where they may play if Le Bris’ club doesn’t want to get promoted as well.
The Black Cats operate considerably differently, with a young and hungry core at the heart of their philosophy as they aim to return to the Premier League with this fresh squad, while Wrexham is demonstrating that age is just a number in the case of their star number seven.
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