Dennis Cirkin couldn’t have dreamt of a better return to action at Sunderland in the opening weeks of the new season.
The left-back was limited to only five starts for Sunderland last term due to a long-term injury that kept him out for the best part of six months.
Cirkin returned in time for pre-season and has since started both of Sunderland’s opening fixtures in the Championship.
He received high praise for his display against Cardiff City as he bagged an assist, before scoring the opener in the 4-0 hammering of Sheffield Wednesday.
Cirkin has formed an exciting relationship with Jack Clarke and Jobe Bellingham on the pitch and has now admitted it is a ‘pleasure’ to play alongside them.
Cirkin absolutely loves his Sunderland triangle
Speaking to the Sunderland Echo, he said: “I think you can see the identity in our team and how we want to play.
“That triangle between me, Jack and Jobe, you know, there’s so many early doors, so we’ve still got a lot to work on, and me personally as well. I’m still learning under the new gaffer. So, yeah, we’ve still got a lot to learn.
“I think we just understand each other a lot,” Cirkin said of Clarke. “And I think we’ve played so much together now, and that includes Jobe as well, that little triangle where we kind of know what we’re going to do, and I think it’s a pleasure to play behind them two.”
Cirkin has the ability to become the best in the Championship
Clarke was always Sunderland’s biggest threat out wide last season, but he was often expected to do everything himself.
Thankfully, he is one of the best players in the Championship and still managed to score the goals that the team needed, but he definitely would have benefitted from having an attacking full-back behind him.
Cirkin has added so much more of a threat down that left side and is able to combine so well with his teammate to create chances and help Clarke get into better positions.
It has been a key reason why we have seen Jobe impressing so much too, with the midfielder bagging the assist for Clarke’s goal against Cardiff.
Cirkin has been one of the Black Cats’ standout performers in the opening two fixtures, and if he can stay fit, then there is no reason why he can’t become one of the best in the Championship.
Sunderland definitely need to get promoted before Premier League clubs start to clock onto just how good he is.