Granit Xhaka importance revealed as he tops surprise Premier League stat
Granit Xhaka has covered every blade of grass for Sunderland this season.
Xhaka has been an unbelievable signing for Sunderland this season, with the Switzerland international’s experience proving to be invaluable in the middle of the pitch.
After a couple of successful years with Bayer Leverkusen, Xhaka joined Sunderland for a fee of £17million, and he has already paid back every penny in only 11 matches.
Xhaka has been instrumental to Sunderland’s progression, with his quality on the ball and his work rate off the ball helping the Black Cats to achieve 19 points at such an early stage of the season.
Despite being 33 years old, Xhaka has all the enthusiasm and desire of a player who is at the start of his career, and he currently leads the way for distance covered in the Premier League this season.
Granit Xhaka tops distanced covered stat in the Premier League
Sunderland have a world-class midfielder on their hands, with his calming presence in the spine of the team allowing for Noah Sadiki and Habib Diarra to flourish in the early parts of the season.
Regis Le Bris will be over the moon with how his captain has slotted into the side, and the Switzerland international typifies everything that’s brilliant about this Sunderland team.
The 33-year-old has covered the most distance in the Premier League at 124.06km, with Noah Sadiki recording the third-most at 122.33km.
| Stat | Granit Xhaka |
| Games played | 11 |
| Goals | 1 |
| Assists | 3 |
| Pass accuracy (percentage) | 83.4% |
| Long ball accuracy (percentage) | 58.4% |
| Chances created | 16 |
| Touches | 774 |
| Distance covered | 124.06km |
That’s a staggering amount of ground covered for a player who is in the twilight years of his career.
Xhaka’s impressive performances earned him a nomination for the September Player of the Month award, yet Erling Haaland was announced as the winner on 10 October.
This season, Xhaka has been one of the best midfielders in the league, and the stats prove it.
This season, Xhaka has made 494 successful passes and 52 long balls, and he has dictated the tempo of each match he’s played in.
The Stadium of Light adores its new captain, and there is still plenty more to come as Sunderland’s ambitions continue to change each week.
Xhaka scored his first Sunderland goal against Everton, and his threat in both boxes is something that few midfielders in the world possess.
- Read more: Every Sunderland player on November international duty – Who they’re playing and how to watch
Granit Xhaka’s energy encapsulates what Sunderland are about under Regis Le Bris
Xhaka has not only been a driving force in midfield but also Sunderland’s creative outlet, with the midfielder registering three assists in his first seven Premier League games.
His brilliant cross for Wilson Isidor gave Sunderland a last-minute win over Brentford, whilst a set-piece delivery found Omar Alderete in the 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest.
And it was a moment of brilliance that unlocked Aston Villa’s defence in the 1-1 draw on 21 September, with his deft header finding Isidor to fire home the equaliser.
The Swiss midfielder is known for scoring long-range strikes throughout his career, and the positive news for the Black Cats supporters is that they’re yet to see his prowess from distance.
The midfield maestro is hitting unbelievable heights at Sunderland, and this latest stat has highlighted how important he is for the Black Cats’ aim this season.
Enjoyed this article? Stay connected with all the latest Sunderland news, updates, and behind-the-scenes content by following us on our new Instagram account –@mackemnews247