Sunderland star Brian Brobbey can still improve - insists Black Cats legend

Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey has been told he ‘needs to believe a little bit more’ in front of goal as he looks to build on a stellar first season at the Stadium of Light.

The former Ajax frontman joined the Black Cats last summer and went on to score seven goals in 32 games in all competitions and that tally included the winning goal in a Tyne-Wear derby win against Newcastle United. Brobbey’s form was enough to land him a place in the Netherlands World Cup finals squad and the striker found the net in wins against Sweden and Tunisia and the Dutch team reached the round of 32 before they were knocked out by Morocco after a penalty shoot-out.

However, the 24-year-old is yet to find the net in Sunderland’s first four games of the Premier League season and he will hope to open his account when the Black Cats host AZ Alkmaar in the first game of their Europa League campaign on Wednesday night. Former Sunderland star Marco Gabbiadini has assessed Brobbey’s performances so far this season and he believes one missed opportunity in Saturday night’s home defeat against reigning Premier League champions Arsenal shows where he can still improve.

The former Black Cats striker told BBC Radio Newcastle: "Brobbey is such a character, isn't he? He's so strong and you can see defenders are afraid of him. They don't want to get into a tangle with him because he's too strong. The ball's going into him but there are a couple of times when I think he needs to believe a little bit more.

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"With the chance near the end [against Arsenal], I think he had a shout to let it go from [Nordi] Mukiele but, as a centre-forward, he could have just stuck out a leg and taken control of that ball, and that's when you get your shot away quickly. I think you saw the frustration after that happened - he was like: 'Ah, I should have taken that chance and not left it for someone else.'

"But that's when the striker's instinct has really got to be strong. He needs a bit of belief and performances like that will bring that belief - but goals are the currency for strikers in his position. The game has changed a little bit – he is a little bit of a throwback. He's a work in progress. He's still a young man and he's finding his way in the Premier League, but it's exciting to watch and there is real potential there."

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