Alan Shearer names Sunderland player in his Team of the Week after Crystal Palace display
Sunderland had several players impress in their latest outing against Crystal Palace
With seven points from the first four games, optimism levels are increasing at the Stadium of Light, and rightfully so.
While Sunderland remain among the favourites for the drop, they have shown plenty of signs of promise in the opening stage of the season.
Regis Le Bris’ side secured a point away to Crystal Palace at the weekend, and one player in particular caught the eye of Alan Shearer.
Sunderland earn rare praise from Alan Shearer
Shearer very rarely has anything good to say about Sunderland, despite the fact that pundits are supposed to refrain from bias.
However, Sunderland’s draw against Oliver Glasner’s side left him with no choice other than to heap praise on Nordi Mukiele.
Troy Deeney named Mukiele in his Team of the Week, and Shearer followed suit via the Premier League.
What Shearer said about Mukiele
- “Stood firm and didn’t give Jean-Philippe Mateta a sniff. Solid as a rock.”
Via Sofascore, the Frenchman completed 43 of his 50 attempted passes against the Eagles, with 72 touches in the game, and 75 per cent of his defensive duels ending with him winning the ball.
After Robin Roefs’ heroics for Sunderland, it’s a surprise to see another pundit snub him, with Aston Villa’s Emi Martinez given the nod ahead of him.
Florent Ghisolfi magic pays off again for Sunderland
Florent Ghisolfi has worked wonders at Sunderland throughout the summer, and his influence has only been amplified by Mukiele’s strong start.
The Frenchman has been outstanding, and despite it being his first spell in England, he already has some of the best numbers in the Premier League for centre-backs.
Mukiele’s stats in the Premier League
- 180 minutes played
- 87.6% pass accuracy
- 85.7% tackle win rate
- 75% duel win rate
- 15 duels won
Alongside Omar Alderete, the duo have formed a formidable partnership, and when Dan Ballard returns from injury at Sunderland, he will have a huge task at hand to get back into the starting 11.
Over the course of the season, his versatility will also come to light, showcasing just how well the Black Cats did to bring him to Wearside.
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