Sunderland centre-back Jenson Seelt has already impressed new manager Michael Beale, who was in attendance for the U21s defeat to Arsenal.
Michael Beale was appointed the new manager of Sunderland yesterday, two weeks after Tony Mowbray was sacked.
The 43-year-old was highly rated as a coach after stepping into management with QPR in June 2022 and having relative success.
He guided the London club to the top of the Championship following a run of eight wins in 11 games but after rejecting advances from Wolves to join Rangers, his stock has taken a dramatic tumble.
During his time in Scotland, he didn’t manage to glean a single trophy, lost four of his five Old Firm Derbies and was subsequently sacked from his post as manager in October, just ten months after taking the job.
His appointment was understandably met with backlash from supporters, especially after they thought Will Still was coming.
However, after his recent demise in management, he’s already planned to get off on the right foot at the Stadium of Light by watching the U21s in their 2-1 defeat to Arsenal.
Several first-team stars were given minutes, including Bradley Dack, Nazariy Rusyn and Mason Burstow, but it was centre-back Jenson Seelt who impressed the most.
Michael Beale would have been impressed with Jenson Seelt
Despite tasting a gut-wrenching loss, Seelt still took the opportunity to impress his new manager by putting in a ‘commanding’ performance, as described by Joe Nicholson of the Sunderland Echo.
He also awarded him an 8/10 match rating – the highest on the pitch – and justified that by saying: “Swept up danger well at the back and was commanding in the air. Looked to play the ball forward and produced some good switches of play. Replaced at half time.”
Seelt impressed in the victory over Leeds United after being given a chance by interim manager Mike Dodds and now deserves a long run in the team.
The 20-year-old arrived from PSV for £1.7 million in the summer and although he rarely featured under Mowbray, Dodds used his short spell in the dugout to highlight what a talent Sunderland have on their hands.
In the win over Leeds, he managed to shut down Crysencio Summerville, who is one of the most devastating wide players in the Championship while helping his side keep a clean sheet.
On that night, he started on the right of a back three but given Beale’s favoured formation is a 4-3-3 attack, it’ll be interesting to see who he chooses in the heart of his defence.
He has Seelt, Luke O’Nien and Dan Ballard to pick from but it’s the former of that trio who has impressed the most and Beale should consider starting him in his first match in charge against Coventry.