Sunderland are blessed with two fantastic strikers in Wilson Isidor and Eliezer Mayenda, but Marco Gabbiadini has outlined where the Black Cats are still falling short.
Regis Le Bris has switched up his team from time to time this season, with different formations allowing for a potent combination of Wilson Isidor and Eliezer Mayenda up top.
However, of late, the Sunderland boss has been forced to choose just one of those strikers at a time, mainly due to the fact the squad is so small.
It remains to be seen whether Mayenda or Isidor will get the nod against Preston North End on Tuesday night, but even having both of the players to choose from may not be enough to help the Black Cats compete at the top.
Sunderland need more strikers, says Marco Gabbiadini
Speaking to the club’s official YouTube channel, Sunderland legend Marco Gabbiadini was full of praise for Mayenda and Isidor, but insisted the club are still lagging behind when it comes to squad depth compared to their Championship rivals.
He said: “They’ve done great. It’s been an issue for us for quite a few seasons. I think we’re still a little bit short, the manager needs options. You look at opponents who have three or four strikers on the bench and obviously the experience, too.
“It’s been difficult, losing Eliezer for so many games, it was a major blow. But he’s come back and he’s really keen and desperate to get back to where he was at the start of the season. Isidor is fantastic to watch, when he gets a run on defenders, he’s so powerful.”
Gabbiadini touched on the pressure facing modern strikers, and offered some sage advice to Mayenda and Isidor, too.
He added: “It’s difficult, sometimes the spotlight is intense, you can watch a chance back in the stadium now… I scored loads but missed lots too and you have to get on with that. The sign of a good striker is the ones who are looking for more chances rather than hiding from it if they do miss.”
Eliezer Mayenda and Wilson Isidor will have to share game time for rest of season
Between them, Mayenda and Isidor have 28 goal contributions this season. They’re a potent pair whether they play together or separately, but there’s no denying they’re at their best when they’re partnered up.
Mayenda was the best player on the pitch against Cardiff at the weekend, and is likely to keep his place for the next game.
| Statistics | Eliezer Mayenda | Wilson Isidor |
| Games | 29 | 33 |
| Goals | 7 | 12 |
| Assists | 5 | 2 |
| xG | 8.1 | 12.7 |
| Shots on target | 46.8% | 43.2% |
| Shot-creating actions/90 | 2.65 | 1.78 |
Le Bris has discussed the solution to the fairly positive headache he has with the two strikers, and it sounds like game time will need to be shared between the pair due to injuries leaving the squad thin for the final run-in this season.
Whether Sunderland get promoted or not, this is an issue Le Bris and the Sunderland hierarchy will surely need to solve for next season. Indeed, that lack of squad depth could well be the thing stopping the Black Cats from going up this year.