If there’s one factor that Sunderland AFC has developed an actual knack for lately, it’s the power and the willingness to supply ample alternatives to gamers who arrive on the Stadium of Gentle with a degree to show, potential to fulfil, and a need to develop each as footballers and people.
In the course of the Alex Neil/Tony Mowbray-overseen Championship marketing campaign of 2022/2023, Amad Diallo benefited enormously from this coverage and after some comparatively uneventful early appearances, the gifted Ivorian ultimately started to gentle up the division, taking part in a key position in serving to the Lads embark on what felt like an against-the-odds playoff run throughout a memorable finish to the season.
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In 2024/2025 it was the flip of Eliezer Mayenda, whose evolution from former Hibernian loanee to explosive, game-changing centre ahead was fairly one thing. His objectives and performances proved important on the highway to promotion, ultimately offering full vindication of the religion proven by each Régis Le Bris and the broader backroom crew.
Now, it’s one other Sunderland ahead who finds himself within the highlight and as we put together to renew our Premier League marketing campaign with the go to of out-of-form Wolves to Wearside, I imagine it’s time for Brian Brobbey to be given his first main alternative — that of main the road once we kick off towards Vitor Pereira’s aspect.
(L-R) Sunderland’s Chris Rigg, Sunderland’s Daniel Ballard, Sunderland’s Omar Alderete and Sunderland’s Brian Brobbey after the ultimate whistle through the Premier League match on the Metropolis Floor, Nottingham. Image date: Saturday September 27, 2025. (Photograph by Nick Potts/PA Pictures through Getty Pictures)
This can be a controversial view given how effectively each Wilson Isidor and Mayenda have taken to life within the high flight, however Brobbey represented a sizeable funding for Sunderland and I actually don’t see a extra opportune second to carry him into the beginning eleven, to see how he fares towards a aspect whose confidence could also be fragile and towards whom he might fancy his probabilities of registering his first league aim in pink and white.
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As his Sunderland profession continues to be in its early phases, it’s important to divide this specific argument into two distinct segments — one regarding Brobbey the footballer and the opposite regarding Brobbey the person.
Given the well-documented and admittedly terrifying private strife he’s endured in latest instances and the impression it undoubtedly had throughout his last season at Ajax, one factor the younger striker certainly must really feel is the total backing of everybody round him. His switch to Sunderland represented a recent begin, you’d hope that he’s totally decided to make sure it doesn’t go to waste and if he’s chosen on Saturday, a packed Stadium of Gentle will likely greet him enthusiastically.
After a minor (and totally nonsensical) controversy that stemmed from him being labelled the “worst signing since Altidore” following Sunderland’s loss to Manchester United, there would’ve likely been a decided behind-the-scenes effort to make sure his confidence wasn’t knocked and while lots of his teammates have been on worldwide obligation, Brobbey’s hopefully been making use of himself diligently on the coaching pitch and making certain that Le Bris doubtlessly has a choice to make this week.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 4: Sunderland Supervisor Regis Le Bris reacts after the Premier League match between Manchester United and Sunderland at Previous Trafford on October 4, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photograph by Daniel Chesterton/Offside/Offside through Getty Pictures)
It’s simple to knock a big-money striker and to spotlight supposed weaknesses of their recreation in the event that they don’t get on the scoreboard inside two or three video games, however any footballer is simply as efficient because the setting by which they’re working and crew’s fashion of play permits them to be. That’s a tough and quick rule and Brobbey is clearly a participant of giant potential, one whom we felt the charge spent was absolutely justified.
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His goalscoring statistics from his time in Amsterdam again that up and though the leap from the Eredivisie to the Premier League has been a really tough one to make over time, with Luis Suarez arguably the one man to actually buck that development, Brobbey is lucky sufficient to have landed in an elite teaching setting and has joined a crew full of gamers who — as we’ve already seen — are pushed by a need for fixed enchancment and a dedication to assist the membership progress.
With that in thoughts, why wouldn’t he be impressed and excited to doubtlessly be a part of one thing promising on Wearside? What’s stopping him from tapping into what made him such a potent finisher within the Netherlands, utilizing his attributes successfully and giving us one other dimension up entrance?
As is at all times the case in such situations, it’s very a lot inside the participant’s arms.
The probabilities will come, hopefully beginning this Saturday, after which it’ll be right down to Brobbey to indicate that together with Isidor and Mayenda, he can type a goalscoring trio that’ll be dependable sufficient to maintain Sunderland firmly on observe this season.
Right here’s hoping!