SUNDERLAND have performed admirably without the injured Pierre Ekwah recently, but it is a mark of the young Frenchman’s class that he will almost certainly walk straight back into Tony Mowbray’s starting XI when he’s fit again.
Signed from West Ham’s under-23 side on a conditional free transfer in January, the 21-year-old was lightly raced last season.
Though he featured 18 times as the Black Cats reached the play-off semi-finals, just seven of those were starts, with Mowbray concerned that Ekwah did not yet have enough muscle on his imposing 6ft 2ins frame.
“The boy hadn’t played a minute of professional football before we signed him,” explained the former Celtic, Middlesbrough and Blackburn boss. “Physically, he’s not quite there. But I keep telling him that if he can develop that aspect of his game then what a footballer we’ve got because he can do amazing things with his feet.”
Fast forward nine months and those worries are ancient history. Physically and technically, Ekwah has already developed into one of the most complete midfielders in the Championship, and is a key cog in Sunderland’s promotion-chasing machine.
Deeper
This story is from the October 08, 2023 edition of The Football League Paper.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the October 08, 2023 edition of The Football League Paper.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Pride at the park is perfect for Paul
EVERYONE deserved a pat on the back was Paul Warne’s verdict as his Derby County side hung on for all three points.
ACE HARRIS NETS TOP AWARD WITH GOAL RUSH
STRIKER Mark Harris has led the Oxford United assault on the second tier – and now it’s landed him the Sky Bet Championship Player of the Month award for August.
SEASIDE LATE SHOW GIVES BRUCE BUZZ
IN HIS first match back in football, new Blackpool boss Steve Bruce admitted this was a tense encounter.
CLEMENCE GETS BLUEBIRDS TO
BARROW boss Stephen Clemence was delighted with his side’s multi faceted performance as they beat Grimsby to continue their strong league start.
KARL FUMES DESPITE LATE SUB HEROICS
KARL Robinson was delighted to see Salford City come back from behind to beat Cheltenham Town thanks to Hakeeb Adelakun’s second-half brace.
PATIENCE REQUIRED OVER NEW BOY ALZATE
HULL City boss Tim Walter says fans will have to wait to see “perfect” midfielder Steven Alzate unleashed on the Championship
DOM AIMS TO HAVE A BALL AT THE O'S...
DOM Ball is eager to use all his experience to help Leyton Orient achieve ‘something special’ this season.
DEL-BOY IS CUSHTY FOR CLEVERLEY
ALTHOUGH it needed a second-half strike from Tom Dele-Bashiru to rescue a point for Watford against Coventry, Hornets’ relieved head coach Tom Cleverley was determined not to point the finger at his slow-starting players.
MACKEMS' PERFECT RECORD IS ROO-INED
WAYNE Rooney expressed his delight after his first Championship win as Plymouth Argyle boss came by beating previously unbeaten leaders Sunderland at the death.
Spanish starlet is seizing his big chance
SUNDERLAND'S failure to sign an established striker this summer left fans apoplectic, but Eliezer Mayenda is doing his best to quell the dissent.
