Sunderland striker Wilson Isidor has been touted for an exit in recent weeks.

Former Sunderland boss Gus Poyet has claimed that Black Cats striker Wilson Isidor can “still give something” to Regis Le Bris’ squad despite falling down the pecking order at the Stadium of Light in recent months.

The Frenchman started the current Premier League campaign in fine form, scoring four goals in his first nine top flight outings. Isidor hasn’t found the back of the net since October, however, and his dip in form, combined with Brian Brobbey’s advent on Wearside, have made opportunities hard to come by of late.

The 25-year-old hasn’t started a league fixture since December 6th, and has registered just 83 minutes of top flight action since the turn of the year. It is within this context that Le Bris has previously admitted that Isidor has grown somewhat “frustrated” by his current situation in the North East, telling a recent press conference: “For Wilson, I've had many conversations with him and his agent recently. He's a really good player, important for us, did really well in the past and for sure in the future as well.

“Yes, sure [he is frustrated at the moment], which I think is acceptable, it's not new in professional life. I think you have to accept good and bad periods, I think if we compare with last season, he had more or less this dynamic, he started well, then struggled a bit, and then went back at the end of the season, so he's learning, we are here to support him, to challenge him, so now the connection is really good, really positive, really open, so I can explain what I expect from him, he can give me feedback about the set-up, what he finds difficult to get better, so I think this connection is really positive, even if he struggles a bit at the minute.”

Moreover, speculation continues to simmer over the prospect of a summer exit for Isidor, with the likes of Everton and Besiktas touted as admirers in recent times. But despite mounting uncertainty over the striker’s future, Poyet has insisted that he can still be an effective presence for the Black Cats.

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What has Gus Poyet said about Sunderland striker Wilson Isidor?

Speaking exclusively to The Echo, courtesy of Premier League betting odds site BetWright, the ex-Sunderland boss said: “I think he can still give something. But, you know, I've actually said this many times when we talk about recruitment system, and I want to use it in this particular case... IIn any team, there are good players. Okay. Now, that doesn't mean that they have the characteristics for that position that the coach wants.

“So, we are not discussing here if he is a good player or a bad player. No, he’s a good player. Now, the situation is, does the coach need those characteristics that he was using in the beginning of the season, or is he now going another way or he needs a different kind of player? So that's the main thing.

“And sometimes it's difficult for coaches to come out and explain that because you have to touch too many things that can affect other players and they take it personally. But it's about the characteristics. And that's only the coach who knows, I promise you. I can give my opinion, but it's about the coach and what he's looking for for that particular position in the team.”

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