As Sunderland wait for news on Brian Brobbey’s setback, Wilson Isidor has been shining for Haiti...

It is important to emphasise that we don’t have all of the relevant information just yet. Until we hear otherwise, there remains a hope that Brian Brobbey’s injury, sustained during the Netherlands’ 1-1 UEFA Nations League draw against Germany on Thursday night, is not as bad as first feared.

That being said, it didn’t look good. The Sunderland star went down without an opposition player around him, immediately clutched his hamstring and signalled to be substituted, and - although he managed to leave the pitch independently - had be assisted down the tunnel by Dutch backroom staff members.

Since then, Netherlands head coach Xavi Hernandez has called up Manchester United talent Joshua Zirkzee as a replacement, and anxiety on Wearside has spiked accordingly as we all wait for a thorough diagnosis. Of course, there is never a comfortable time to lose a player of Brobbey’s uniquely monstrous profile, but to do so at this exact juncture - just after he netted a hat-trick against Manchester City and right before Sunderland embark on a post-international break run of seven matches in 21 days - feels especially concerning and cruel, should worst come to worst.

Perhaps, though, there is some solace to be taken from another, vastly contrasting performance turned in by a Black Cats favourite overnight. Since opting to represent Haiti prior to this summer’s World Cup, Wilson Isidor has produced no fewer than seven goal contributions in eight caps, and in the early hours of Friday morning, against Trinidad & Tobago, he produced a stone cold masterclass to drag his side to victory.

Two assists were followed by a 98th minute winner, the forward stealing in courageously at the back stick to nod home from point blank range, and in doing so, Isidor mustered up the kind of all-conquering, swaggeringly decisive showing that, in truth, we haven’t seen from him all that often in a red and white shirt of late.

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To be fair, that hasn’t necessarily been his fault. As Brobbey’s stock has risen thunderously, his teammate has been forced to settle for cameo appearances and fleeting openings. The Dutchman has feasted, and Isidor has had to make do with scraps. But his outing on Friday morning served as something of a reminder; he can be an influential attacking presence, and he is in possession of a wily goal-scoring streak.

And depending on the length of Brobbey’s potential absence, Sunderland may have to rely on that streak more often than not over the coming weeks. Isidor, of course, will never be able to replicate the peerless physicality that has made his fellow striker such a fearsome and frequently discussed addition to the Premier League, but that doesn’t mean that he can’t be effective in his own way when called upon.

If Sunderland are to be without Brobbey for an extended period of time, then Isidor will need to step out of his shadow and up to the plate. His latest display for Haiti hopefully shows that he has what it takes to do exactly that.

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