Sunderland have been told they have two players who could be a real ‘game-changer’ for them next season.
Sunderland have endured one of their most disappointing campaigns in recent years, suffering 19 defeats in 41 games – the joint-fourth most in the Championship.
The Black Cats have faced the downfall of having such a young squad, while they haven’t been helped by injuries either – though that seems to have been a running theme for years now.
Niall Huggins, Dennis Cirkin, Dan Ballard, Jenson Seelt, Aji Alese, Corry Evans, Elliot Embleton, Jack Clarke, Pierre Ekwah, Bradley Dack and Nazariy Rusyn have all had spells on the sidelines, leaving Sunderland short on options all over the pitch.
One player who has just returned from injury is Aji Alese, who made only his third appearance of the campaign in the draw with Bristol City.
The 23-year-old is one of three left-backs who have been sidelined, with Huggins and Cirkin still out, though the latter is likely to be the first to return.
Sunderland defenders can be a ‘game-changer’
Alese was hailed as ‘excellent’ after his brief cameo at the weekend, with journalist Phil Smith tipping him and his teammate Dennis Cirkin to be hugely important next season.
Speaking on Sunderland Echo’s YouTube channel, Smith said: “Aji Alese looked excellent when he came on. If he stays fit and we can get Dennis Cirkin back then that’s a game changer for Sunderland next season, because I think they’re two top Championship full-backs.
“If we go back to Alese’s injury in January, they’ve been huge misses and we’ve never quite found a solution.”
Journalist James Copley replied: “He [Alese] gives height. We saw it when he was brought straight back in for the game against Newcastle how highly he is rated. His physical presence – I think he compliments Jack Clarke on the left as well.”
Can we fit both in the team?
Niall Huggins looked exceptional when he took up the chance at left-back following his teammates’ injuries, however we were left without a replacement when he too ended up in the treatment room.
We then brought in Leo Hjelde who has been particularly underwhelming, so to get Alese back is a huge relief.
With Alese and Cirkin battling it out for that left-back spot next season, we could arguably have two of the best full-backs in the Championship on our side.
In fact, they are both so good that an argument could be made for bringing Alese into central defence too.
Either way, we will look miles better if they are both fit and they can both be such a threat going forward too – even when we inevitably lose Jack Clarke this summer.