Exclusive:'The main thing' - Louis Saha picks out 'huge asset' key to Sunderland's success this season
Louis Saha has been discussing Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey.
Former Sunderland striker Louis Saha has emphasised the importance of the Black Cats keeping Brian Brobbey fit and firing this term as they balance their domestic duties with a fledgling European campaign.
The Dutchman has made a typically impactful start to the season, once again showcasing his peerless physicality, and hitting a hat-trick in a 5-3 defeat at the hands of Manchester City in September. Since then, however, Brobbey has been sidelined with a hamstring injury sustained while away on international duty with the Netherlands, and in his absence, Sunderland sank to a lacklustre 2-0 loss against Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday afternoon.
But the centre-forward was named on the bench for Thursday night’s Europa League clash against Portuguese outfit Torreense, and moving forward, Saha is of the belief that his presence will prove absolutely vital to the Black Cats’ hopes of success on home soil and further afield over the coming weeks.
Speaking to BettingLounge, the pundit said: “It’s a huge challenge for Sunderland, having only arrived in the Premier League last season and going straight into Europe. It probably came earlier than they expected. They have a lot more to think about, there will be more injuries and more rotation. The system isn’t a problem, it’s about getting momentum and managing the squad as well as possible.
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“One big dependency they have is on Brian Brobbey, keeping him fit and managing him carefully will play a big part in their success this season. I see a dependency there that Regis Le Bris will have to think about.
“When you have a player that plays such a pivotal role in the team, bringing them up the pitch and being the main scorer, it’s very hard to find a back-up or replacement. You can give him five opportunities, he can score three goals. He’s a huge asset that is missed instantly when he’s not in the team, it’s very hard for the recruitment team to live up to that in his position.
“The main thing will be keeping him fit throughout the season, keeping him in January, and looking at a fresh option for next season.”