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30/1/2023 | 01:05pm
Sunderland have loved a superb return season within the Championship, regardless of the early-season managerial upheaval that noticed Tony Mowbray employed as the brand new boss.
The 59-year-old was despatched in with only a month of the summer time window remaining, and as such was unable to really have a huge effect on any dealings that went on.
Thankfully, nonetheless, the exploits of Kristjaan Speakman had already bolstered a squad that would solely earn promotion by way of the League One play-offs final 12 months.
Probably the most excellent items of enterprise from the sporting director was to amass Ellis Simms on mortgage from Everton, with the 22-year-old happening to excel on the Stadium of Mild.
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He would rating seven instances in simply 17 video games, in a marketing campaign that was additionally blighted by harm.
Nonetheless, given the monetary constraints of his mum or dad membership, he was compelled to be recalled as they sought out added depth.
This was a hammer blow to supporters on Wearside, however might be rapidly forgotten ought to Speakman safe the same deal by wanting in the direction of a distinct Premier League membership for some short-term reinforcements.
With Alan Nixon noting their curiosity in Ateef Konate of Nottingham Forest yesterday, the scientific attacking midfielder may greater than make up for this goalscoring emptiness enforced upon them by the Toffees.
Regardless of struggling for senior minutes this season, the 21-year-old has been on a mission to show himself as far above his present station.
He has finished this by scoring eight instances and aiding as soon as throughout simply eight Premier League 2 matches. Such is his pedigree at such a younger age, he was even handed his senior debut final season by Steve Cooper within the Championship.
Ought to Sunderland take an opportunity on Konate?
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Regardless of clearly being a reduce above his present league, plainly the Forest supervisor is unwilling to unleash the Frenchman given the precarious nature of the primary staff’s marketing campaign. He’s as a substitute opting to make much more transfers, which sees Konate’s alternatives diminish additional.
A mortgage stint at Sunderland may lastly assist him get that senior expertise that his kind has merited, while hopefully filling the void left by Simms’ exit.
Clearly an thrilling expertise, he was lauded by Dave Rogers, certainly one of his U21 coaches, after swooping the participant of the month award for his division. He claimed: “He’s scored some incredible targets for us, however he brings a lot extra to the staff than simply discovering the again of the web.
“He’s a menace for the opposition every time he performs, and he has additionally added an actual want and work ethic off the ball too which is an space of enchancment we requested of him. We now hope he can proceed to progress from right here as a result of he’s a really proficient particular person.”
Konate may now convert this menace into tangible senior expertise, maybe pushing the Black Cats in the direction of an unlikely however wholly potential playoff push.