Technically, Sunderland aren’t in the greatest form after five Premier League games.
The 2026/27 season has wrapped up after Chapter One, the lengthy autumn international break now upon us. Sunderland have only one won game so far, picking up four points. They have lost two on the bounce.
But context is key, and Regis Le Bris said after the thrilling 5-3 defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad that he was “really proud” of his players, who went toe-to-toe against the Citizens after producing a fierce display against Arsenal at the Stadium of Light.
They may have lost both, but the Black Cats’ togetherness and tenacity are still on full show, and Granit Xhaka continues to sparkle as the captain and commander-in-chief.
How Xhaka became Sunderland’s biggest superstar
Xhaka was instrumental in cementing Sunderland’s newfound top-flight status last season. In fact, you could say he was the main man for a club who had been ridiculed for their incredible decline over previous years.
You could say Xhaka provided the vaccine Sunderland had been searching for to fight off so many problems years before.
Last year, pundit Wayne Rooney hailed Xhaka as “the signing of the season” in the English top flight, so crucial in propping up newly-promoted Sunderland and firing them into European contention.
He doesn’t seem to age, and has started the new campaign off to a flyer, actually placing even more emphasis on creativity without divorcing from his skillset the combative defensive side that powered Le Bris’ system to the max last year.
|
Xhaka with Sunderland in the Premier League |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Stats (* per 90) |
25/26 |
26/27 |
|
Matches (starts) |
34 (32) |
5 (5) |
|
Goals + assists |
1 + 6 |
0 + 0 |
|
Touches* |
67.5 |
75.6 |
|
Accurate passes* |
44.5 (84%) |
51.2 (87%) |
|
Big chances created |
9 |
5 |
|
Key passes* |
1.0 |
2.6 |
|
Possession lost* |
12.6 |
14.0 |
|
Succ. dribbles* |
0.3 |
0.8 |
|
Ball recoveries* |
4.7 |
6.6 |
|
Tackles + interceptions* |
4.9 |
3.0 |
|
Duels won* |
4.6 (60%) |
5.6 (60%) |
He’s quite the captain, perhaps Sunderland’s finest and most influential player since Kevin Phillips way back when.
Upstaging him in that regard will be quite the task, but one of Xhaka’s teammates is well on his way to doing so.
Le Bris signing is becoming Sunderland’s finest player since Phillips
Phillips is one of the Premier League’s most iconic strikers. At Sunderland, he is a hero, having scored 121 goals across 227 matches for the Wearsiders.
He is regarded by many as the club’s greatest Premier League legend, but the way Le Bris’ European chargers are going, there could be a few challengers for that title.
Xhaka is of course one, but Enzo Le Fee would also fancy his chances of being remembered as the definitive superstar of the current era.
On Wednesday noon, it was announced that the French playmaker had committed his future to the outfit, extending his Sunderland contract until 2031.
Le Fee is quite the nifty midfielder. He created more big chances (13) than any of his teammates in the Premier League last season, and he has started the new campaign with an even more focal role at the heart of Le Bris’ system, winning five duels per game on average.
Football analyst Jacob Horsfall recently gushed over the 26-year-old’s recent performances, saying he “can do absolutely everything and anything with a ridiculously high level of thinking in every action.”
Le Fee is bound to have attracted recent interest from some hungry suitors, but the fact he has penned a new deal means, at the very least, that Sunderland will pocket quite the prize is an interested team do sign him while still in his prime.
Is it out of the question to suggest Le Fee will soon attract the attention of Les Bleus manager Zinedine Zidane? Probably not. Like Phillips once before him, there are times during which Le Fee shows bona fide world-class ability, and with age on his side, there is every reason that Le Fee could leave an even greater legacy than Xhaka behind.
Of course, for now, the two contrasting midfielders will continue to charge Sunderland’s system. There are exciting times ahead for the Europa League contenders – with Le Fee scoring the winning goal from the spot as they beat AZ Alkmaar to get their campaign off on the right foot.