Some of the striker options for Sunderland boss after Brian Brobbey injury blow
Sunderland are facing a major blow after Brian Brobbey injury, Tom Greaves assesses the options.
With Brian Brobbey suffering a hamstring injury last night for the Netherlands, it leaves the Black Cats without their starting striker for an unknown period of time.
Brobbey pulled up in the early stages of the game against Germany and had to be helped off by medics. Although the timeframe is not confirmed, it looks like Regis Le Bris will have to call on Wilson Isidor as his new starting no9.
Before playing Manchester City last week, Sunderland had struggled to score open play goals with two in all competitions since the start of the season. But, it looked like the Black Cats had finally found their shooting boots, when they scored three at the Etihad through a Brobbey hat-trick. Now, the Wearsiders need to find another way to score goals.
Le Bris has two other out-and-out strikers in the squad, Isidor and 18-year-old Juan Riquelme Angulo. With seven games in 21 days after the international break, Brobbey’s untimely injury could be pivotal in how Sunderland’s season plays out and gives Isidor a chance of earning the starting role.
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Sunderland will be forced to change tactics in the Dutch international’s absences with Isidor being a different style of player. Unlike Brobbey, Isidor likes to run in behind and stretch the play using his pace. In the AZ Alkmaar game, he did show that he was more adaptable, coming short and linking with the play but he was unable to get his goal. So far this season, the 26-year-old has scored once in all competitions in the home win against Fulham.
The Black Cats do have Ecuadorian Riquelme Angulo at their disposal with the young striker making his first senior appearance for his country yesterday, but due to his age and in-experience in English football, it would be a massive jump for him.
Otherwise, Sunderland could utilise a false nine role, with new signing Malick Fofana having some experience in that position during his time at Olympique Lyonnais as well as academy player Timur Tutierov but it is neither of their preferred positions or how Le Bris usually sets up.
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