Sunderland could axe Ekwah by unleashing their 7/10 “genius” instead

Sunderland will aim to put their dire form to one side with this star coming in

Mike Dodds, despite being first viewed as a breath of fresh air after the dismal

reign of Michael Beale was cut short, has failed to get Sunderland going ever since coming back in as interim boss.

The 37-year-old Black Cats boss, who is filling in for the injured Steve Sidwell,

would lose four out of the team’s four Championship games if Sunderland

were to suffer another heavy defeat against Southampton today. As a result,

the team would be falling through the division at an alarming rate.

However, a successful outcome might dramatically reverse the club’s fortunes,

and Dodds would be frantically trying to figure out what adjustments he could

make to start a winning streak that could begin with a victory versus Russell Martin’s Saints.

Since Pierre Ekwah, a former West Ham United player, was not present at the

races during his team’s 1-0 midweek loss to Leicester City, he may be cut

loose in order to make room for new players tomorrow.

Pierre Ekwah’s performance vs Leicester in numbers

In reality, the dynamic 22-year-old midfielder didn’t perform well against

Enzo Maresca’s Foxes, as the Frenchman was unable to attempt to add to his

season total of four goals by taking a single shot on Mads Hermansen’s goal.

In just thirty minutes against Leicester, Aouchiche would record an amazing

three crucial passes. From the moment he entered the game, he sought to create opportunities.

The deft five-foot-11 midfielder tested Hermansen with consecutive shots,

while the shy Ekwah managed none, putting five shots on the Danish

goalkeeper’s net to keep him alert as other players dropped back.

Even though Aouchiche was only on the field for a short while, journalist Andy

Tomlinson of the Roker Report gave him a glowing 7/10 at the end of play, saying

the former PSG player “really troubled” Leicester.

Aouchiche scored an incredible 16 goals in 25 appearances for the France U17

team, earning him the nickname “little genius” from football talent scout Jacek

Kulig. Dodds will want to see this explosive best from his slick creator

carried across a whole 90-minute match.

Should the dynamic French talent lead Sunderland to an uncommon victory,

today’s match could be the best opportunity to witness what the 21-

year-old is capable of right from the start. It could be a masterstroke swap from Dodds.