One Sunderland star, who often goes under the radar, has finally earned some huge praise in the media.
Sunderland have a number of standout players in their first-team squad right now, who are all enjoying strong seasons.
Academy gem Chris Rigg is turning heads. Jobe Bellingham continues to shine in midfield. And Romaine Mundle has come into his element since Jack Clarke left Sunderland during the summer.
Regis Le Bris is almost spoilt for choice when matchdays roll around, with the Frenchman having plenty of strength in depth at the Stadium of Light.
But Le Bris will say that the team as a whole makes Sunderland as good as they have been this season, currently sitting in 1st place of the Championship table.
There’s perhaps a few players whose input goes under the radar, and one such player might be Dennis Cirkin.
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‘Outstanding’ Dennis Cirkin earns praise at Sunderland
Cirkin returned to the Sunderland XI going into this season after featuring just eight times in the Championship last season owing to injury.
His return was immediately spotted by fans. Cirkin adds huge balance to the left-side of defence, as well as energy, bombing up and down the wings.
But not enough people talk about Cirkin at Sunderland right now, with all the focus on the club’s attacking stars.
Speaking on the Championship Check-In podcast though, pundit Sam Parkin has hailed Cirkin’s input this season.
He said: “I think he has been one of the most outstanding players in the division this season.
“When you watch him live, he is a very good athlete. I think he gets up and down; it is eye-catching the way he moves with the ball, but his decision-making on the ball and his ability on the ball have been top class this season.”
Dennis Cirkin’s stats at Sunderland so far this season
Full-backs can often go without the praise they deserve, especially in a Sunderland side like this one, with so much young and exciting talent in the midfield and attacking third.
But Cirkin’s stats show us just how important he’s been to the team this season.
Cirkin averages the seventh-highest average passes-per-game game of any Sunderland player this season (24.6), and the third-highest key passes-per-game too (one, as many as Mundle).
Defensively, Cirkin really shines. He has the most average tackles-per-game of any Sunderland player this season (3.8), the most interceptions (2.3), and the third-highest clearances-per-game (2.8).
The Black Cats return to action against Hull City on Sunday afternoon.