If Sunderland are to emulate their success from final season’s version of the Premier League, supervisor Regis Le Bris must pull off some exceptional work within the months forward.
The Black Cats’ potential to qualify for the Europa League final time period was past any of the supporters’ wildest creativeness after years within the wilderness within the EFL.
Nevertheless, that includes in such a contest will solely add extra pressure on the senior ranks and can undoubtedly take a look at the squad depth on the Stadium of Gentle.
We’re solely a handful of video games into the 2026/27 marketing campaign, however the results of the fixture congestion are already beginning to take their toll on the membership’s senior squad.
Why dropping Brobbey may derail Sunderland’s progress in 2026/27
Throughout the first 5 league video games of the brand new marketing campaign, Sunderland have solely tasted victory as soon as, however there’s no denying striker Brian Brobbey has been their shining gentle.
The Dutch worldwide has began all 5 of the Black Cats’ video games in England’s top-flight up to now, subsequently sitting on the very high of the membership’s goalscoring charts.
His hat-trick towards Manchester Metropolis within the closing recreation earlier than the break was proof of his top-class high quality inside attacking areas – which has little doubt made him Le Bris’ most necessary ahead.
Nevertheless, throughout his current worldwide conflict with Germany, the 24-year-old limped off with a suspected hamstring challenge, which may see him miss a piece of motion within the Premier League.
Dropping the centre-forward could be one more mega blow for Le Bris, because the Dutchman affords extra than simply his goalscoring, which is seen in his stats from the present marketing campaign.
Brobbey’s dominant and aggressive nature has been an enormous asset for Sunderland in current months, with the previous Ajax man profitable 69% of his aerial duels this marketing campaign.
Sunderland high scorers since promotion | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Participant | 2025/26 | 2026/27 | Complete |
Brian Brobbey | 7 | 3 | 10 |
Wilson Isidor | 6 | 1 | 7 |
Enzo Le Fée | 5 | 1 | 6 |
Chemsdine Talbi | 4 | 0 | 4 |
Nordi Mukiele | 3 | 0 | 3 |
Habib Diarra | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Eliezer Mayenda | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Daniel Ballard | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Trai Hume | 2 | 0 | 2 |
His tally of two.1 fouls received per 90 additionally comes because of his potential to bully the opposition, ensuing within the attacker rating within the high 20% of all attackers in Europe for the aforementioned figures.
How Le Bris can resolve Sunderland’s Brobbey damage blow
The obvious option to fill the void within the absence of Brobbey is fellow striker Wilson Isidor, with the Haitian worldwide champing on the bit for a beginning position as soon as once more.
The 26-year-old has been compelled to accept a spot on the bench in all 5 league video games this time period, however has nonetheless managed to seek out the again of the online towards Fulham.
Nevertheless, such a purpose has typically papered over the cracks of his disappointing shows, with the ahead nonetheless unable to emulate his success from the promotion-winning marketing campaign.
In consequence, Le Bris needs to be exploring different choices to steer the road, which may see new addition Malick Fofana handed an opportunity to star on the high finish of the pitch.
The winger, who arrived from Lyon throughout the closing phases of the window for £30m, was introduced in so as to add wanted tempo and high quality to the membership’s ahead division.
While he undoubtedly prefers to function off the left-hand aspect of the assault, the 21-year-old does have expertise of working in a false 9 place throughout his time in France.
He could be a totally totally different choice to the bodily dominant Brobbey, however his electrical tempo may nicely be excellent off the shoulder of the final defender.
His stats from his closing marketing campaign at Lyon show his potential to star in such a job, which may see him function because the Black Cats’ makeshift centre-forward after the break.
Fofana managed to register a formidable tally of 1.1 pictures on track in Ligue 1 final marketing campaign, with such a determine rating him above 83% of forwards throughout Europe’s top-five leagues.
Such a determine, coupled along with his 47% shot-on-target accuracy price, demonstrates his glorious potential to hassle the goalkeeper – one thing which will likely be missing in Brobbey’s absence.
The Belgian could possess a smaller body than the Dutchman, however he’s nonetheless been capable of be efficient in duels towards the opposition – as seen by his exceptional 54% success price final time period.
The aforementioned determine ranked him within the high 9% of forwards in France’s top-flight final marketing campaign, which showcases he’s capable of put himself about and trigger the opposition infinite issues.
Dropping Brobbey for an prolonged interval will likely be a bitter blow for Le Bris and the supporters, with the centre-forward arguably one of many membership’s most necessary gamers.
Nevertheless, his setback may nicely present the platform for Fofana to ignite his profession within the North East and showcase why the hierarchy spent so closely to safe his signature.