Gabby Agbonlahor can only see one thing happening as ‘outstanding’ Sunderland star hailed
Sunderland host Wolves at the Stadium of Light on Saturday as they look to further distance themselves from the Premier League relegation zone.
Sunderland are ninth in the Premier League, and with their opponents languishing at the bottom of the table, the match represents a huge opportunity for Regis Le Bris’ side to boost their survival hopes.
Sunderland were favourites for relegation at the start of the season, yet a mixture of smart recruitment and defensive stability has left fans thrilled with their start to the season.
Gabby Agbonlahor had his say on what to expect from the match and which player has been key for Sunderland’s brilliant results.
Sunderland expected to beat Wolves as Granit Xhaka is praised
Wolves head to the North East winless in the league this season, and it will be a tall order for them to gain a result against a buoyant Sunderland.
Speaking on talkSPORT on 17 October, Agbonlahor said he can only see one outcome from Saturday’s match, whilst also praising Granit Xhaka’s influence for the Black Cats.
He said: “If you’re Sunderland, you’re throwing the kitchen sink at Wolves, and Sunderland have the Stadium of Light on their side. I see nothing but a Sunderland win against Wolves.
“Xhaka’s been an outstanding signing and it was a great decision to make him captain.”
| Appearances | 7 |
| Goals | 0 |
| Assists | 3 |
| Chances created | 9 |
| Pass accuracy (percentage) | 83.8 |
| Duels won (percentage) | 58.4 |
Xhaka’s fantastic performances for Sunderland have left the Stadium of Light buzzing with his top-class influence on each match.
Match-winning contributions against Nottingham Forest and Brentford have showcased that his quality alone could define the outcome of Sunderland’s season.
The captain has been a calming presence for the Black Cats, and his composure on the ball could allow for Sunderland to dominate proceedings against Wolves.
With Habib Diarra out injured, Xhaka will be relieved that Sadiki has been cleared to play on Saturday.
Noah Sadiki’s availability a huge advantage for Sunderland
Sadiki was a doubt for the Wolves match, yet Le Bris confirmed on Thursday that he is likely to feature.
With Chris Rigg likely to make up the midfield, Xhaka’s experience is proving invaluable alongside the younger midfielders in the squad.
Sadiki has a huge amount of potential and the 20-year-old is thriving under the tutelage of Xhaka at the heart of the Sunderland midfield.
Xhaka is loving life at Sunderland, and fans will be confident that if they are to beat Wolves on Saturday, he will undoubtedly play a huge part in the victory.
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