If there’s one factor we discovered throughout his maiden marketing campaign on Wearside — aside from the truth that he’s obtained the type of ardour for soccer and clear love for Sunderland that you could’t assist however admire — it’s that behind the smile and the affable, happy-go-lucky exterior, there’s a fiercely aggressive footballer and mentally sturdy in Wilson Isidor.
Bear in mind, for instance, how he struck to present us a vital foothold within the Championship playoff semi-final first leg in opposition to Coventry Metropolis, whipping a shot previous Ben Wilson to place Sunderland 3-2 up after fairly a prolonged barren run in entrance of purpose?
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That purpose — together with the array of equally outrageous strikes that preceded it — ought to’ve served discover that he was a person for a significant event and additional proof of this was offered when he grew to become the primary participant to attain within the first three house video games of a newly-promoted membership’s Premier League marketing campaign, with strikes in opposition to West Ham, Brentford and Aston Villa.
It was nearly the proper introduction to prime flight soccer for the favored striker, and let’s not overlook that his poacher’s end in opposition to Chelsea set us on our method to a well-known victory at Stamford Bridge.
Nevertheless, it’s honest to say that the previous week has been considered one of combined fortunes for Isidor.
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Our journey to Anfield to face Liverpool nearly resulted in wonderful triumph as he had an opportunity to make it 1-2 earlier than being thwarted by an excellent goal-line clearance from Federico Chiesa, and an identical story nearly unfolded on the Etihad Stadium when he discovered himself in on purpose with a call to make — just for Gianluigi Donnarumma to make the save.
The previous would’ve secured a landmark win and the latter may’ve represented a comfort throughout a troublesome afternoon in opposition to Manchester Metropolis, nevertheless it simply so occurs that he couldn’t fairly end the probabilities. That’s the best way it goes and there’s no want for panic.
That stated, on a extra constructive observe, Isidor is making the runs, exhibiting consciousness and getting himself into positions from which possibilities can and hopefully will probably be taken. Premier League defences are much more streetwise and spiteful than these he usually obtained the higher of throughout 2024/2025 — he’ll know this and the problem he faces is to make sure that when he does get into these promising positions and is discovered by a teammate, he reveals composure and decisiveness.
Isidor is a mercurial expertise.
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He’s a gloriously unpredictable footballer who combines very good work fee and a pointy flip of tempo with a penchant for the spectacular and the occasional second of “How’s he missed that?”-style insanity. That’s simply a part of the package deal. It’s a must to settle for it for the entire good issues he brings to our aspect — and like many strikers of his ilk, he sometimes makes the seemingly tough look straightforward and the apparently straightforward look tough.
It saved us all entertained throughout the 2024/2025 season and there’s completely little doubt in my thoughts that he’ll discover his vary as soon as once more and start to contribute extra ceaselessly to Sunderland’s goalscoring exploits — which have been shared across the crew impressively this season.
He’s additionally a workhorse, a tireless runner and a real crew participant — somebody in whom Régis Le Bris has an amazing quantity of belief. That claims loads about his perspective, and he embodies the whole ethos that underpins this Sunderland’s crew’s efforts: that of expertise alone not being sufficient, with a willingness to do the laborious yards a non-negotiable.
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On that observe, maybe Le Bris has what you may time period a “constructive choice dilemma” to grapple with for the video games to come back.
Isidor and Brian Brobbey — the latter of whom might have a good case to start out in opposition to Newcastle, ought to we want to pose a bodily menace to the guests’ centre halves from the outset — are each gamers of giant potential. Brobbey’s already confirmed hints of that along with his objectives in opposition to Arsenal and Bournemouth, and Isidor’s high quality is in little doubt.
Put on-Tyne derbies usually deliver out the perfect in people and no matter whether or not he begins on Sunday or comes off the bench to present us recent impetus with half an hour remaining, you possibly can wager that Isidor will probably be fired up and decided to make his mark.
As 40,000+ Sunderland followers crank up the quantity and the Stadium Of Gentle is showcased at its raucous finest, the Lads can have a chance to write down their names into folklore, and wouldn’t it’s an excellent story if Isidor was on the coronary heart of it?
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These video games want heroes. Assume Defoe, Phillips and Quinn — gamers who delivered timeless moments in opposition to a aspect we’d dearly like to beat.
Perhaps — simply perhaps — Isidor might add his title to that listing on Sunday.