By Regis Le Bris’ own admission, Sunderland felt that one of their new faces could perform a very different role when he arrived at the Stadium of Light over the summer.
But as The Black Cats cruised back to the top of the Championship table with a 2-0 win over Derby County on Tuesday night, Wilson Isidor made another big stride towards nailing down his spot at centre-forward.
Brought in on loan from Zenit St Petersburg after Sunderland failed to agree a deal with Caen for Alexandre Mendy and after Roko Simic opted to join Cardiff City instead, Isidor took his time to get going on Wearside.
But as he marked a maiden Sunderland start with a goal against Watford on Saturday, Isidor struck in very similar fashion as Le Bris’ side swept past Derby County.
It was Patrick Roberts, at Vicarage Road, who fizzed in the cross for Isidor to convert. This time, the Frenchman was on hand to turn home a Romaine Mundle delivery from the opposite flank.
And Le Bris believes that Isidor is already showing signs of improvement, particularly with regards to his ability to get on the end of crosses.
The manager also admits that – after being reunited with his former Rennes starlet in the North East – Isidor had initially been considered as competition for Mundle on the left before emerging himself as the club’s go-to number nine.
Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris delighted by Wilson Isidor impact
“The second goal was really important in the beginning of the second half,” Le Bris said during his post-match review, Isidor netting after a stunning Jobe Bellingham strike gave Sunderland a 40th minute lead.
“We thought, at the beginning, that [Isidor] could be a left winger. But it is clear now that he could be a good striker as well.”
Still only two starts into his Sunderland career, Le Bris feels that the former Monaco and Lokomotiv Moscow man can become even more influential once the likes of Roberts, Mundle and Bellingham become increasingly au fait with his strengths and movement.
“He is still involved in the game and, I think, game after game, he create more links with his teammates,” adds Le Bris, who coached a young Isidor back home in France.
“And they can [better] understand his runs, the way he can receive the ball. I think he is becoming better, especially during crosses for example because [this was] his second goal after a cross.
“So I hope he can continue like that.”
While Eliezer Mayenda started the season strongly – Sunderland have now signed free-agent Aaron Connolly too – Isidor can go a long way to making himself one of the first names on Le Bris’ team sheet if he finds the net again during Friday’s clash with fellow high-flyers Leeds United.
Le Bris still wants more despite Sunderland’s Derby County win
This was certainly not the hosts finest display of the season – Derby defender Kane Wilson highlighted an ‘amazing’ Sunderland midfield as the main difference between the two teams – but Le Bris surely could not have imagined that life across the Channel would have started so superbly.
“It was another tough game. I think our first half was good, even if we can have more control of the game, especially in possession,” adds the former FC Lorient coach. “We scored after a high recovery and in this kind of game it is very important to score first.
“We scored quickly after half-time and then the game became more chaotic because they wanted to unbalance us with direct play.
“Were very strong in duels. We kept our discipline and that shape is our foundation. We were strong at set-pieces because they are very good in this area.
“We had a good level of discipline. It’s another win at home. I would like to be more dominant in possession because we have the quality to do that, so we will work on it.”