The Christmas period is as good a time as any to step back, take stock, and start to draw conclusions about the nature of Regis Le Bris’ Sunderland squad.
Who is the Black Cats’ most creative talent? Who is the most reliable? Who wins the most tackles, completes the most dribbles, or attempts the most shots?
Well, with the help of the stats, let’s find out…
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Most minutes played – Dan Neil, 1885
In a period in which Regis Le Bris has been forced into considerable changes due to injury, illness and suspension, the ever-robust Trai Hume had been a pillar of strength at right-back. However, with Hume left out of the XI for only the second time in 22 Championship matches, captain Dan Neil nicks in at top spot in terms of minutes played.
They say the best ability is ‘availability’, and few emphasise that better than Neil. He has played the full 90 minutes in no fewer than 20 of Sunderland’s 22 Championship matches in 2024/25.
Most shots per game – Wilson Isidor, 2.1
The goals might have dried up of late for the Zenit St Petersburg loanee but the shots certainly haven’t.
Wilson Isidor’s ‘hammer-like’ ball-striking had his Zenit teammates cowering over in Russia. These days, it is those unfortunate Championship goalkeepers who are seeing the strength of their wrists tested by the Frenchman’s blockbuster efforts.
Best pass accuracy – Dan Ballard, 89.1 per cent
Given that Le Bris’ Sunderland tends to play out from the back, it is not surprising that their defenders – tasked with funnelling the ball into midfield and into the wide areas – sit right at the top of the passing statistics.
Sitting behind Ballard in the pass completion stakes are, as you might have guessed, Chris Mepham and Aji Alese.
Most tackles won – Dennis Cirkin, 31
As Dennis Cirkin’s scored a ‘fantastic’ solo goal against Coventry City, that, in the minds of many, confirmed his status as the finest attacking left-back in the Championship. As such, the other side of his game often goes unnoticed.
The tireless Cirkin, even while bombing forward down the flank, still finds the time to average the most tackles per game of any Sunderland player. His average of three every 90 minutes, meanwhile, is a massive improvement on last season’s tally of 1.7.
Most dribbles – Romain Mundle, 1.8 per game
Le Bris tends to hand plenty of freedom to his full-backs to push on and join the attacks. Something reflected by the fact that both Hume and Cirkin rank amongst Sunderland’s top four when it comes to the number of successful dribbles per game.
Yet, it is Mundle who sits high above the rest with nearly two every 90 minutes. Unsurprisingly, Patrick Roberts – with his mazy, jinking runs – comes in third with Elizier Mayenda taking second place.
Most key passes – Jobe Bellingham, 1.5 per game
The £3 million signing from Birmingham City spent much of his debut season at Sunderland leading the line following the loss of Ross Stewart. Isidor’s arrival has freed up Bellingham to shift back to his favoured midfield role under Le Bris, however.
And Sunderland are now seeing the full benefits of Jobe’s box-crashing potential and his eye for a defence-splitting through ball. No one makes more chances via key passes in the Black Cats squad.
Most passes per game – Luke O’Nien, 54
Sunderland’s Mr Flexible continues to pop up just about anywhere Le Bris needs him, producing 7/10 performances whether in the centre, on the right, or on the left. O’Nien’s background as a midfielder, meanwhile, can be seen in the way he likes to get on the ball and distribute from deep.
Most shot-creating actions – Patrick Roberts, 66
The one-time Manchester City and Celtic starlet might not have blossomed into the elite winger he threatened to become at one point, but Roberts remains a truly fearsome proposition for opposition full-backs when he puts on the afterburners.
Stats side FBREF describes ‘shot-creating actions’ as ‘offensive actions which directly lead to a shot on target, such as a pass or a cross’. So while Bellingham, Chris Rigg and Romain Mundle have all made big progress in the final third this term, Roberts remains Sunderland’s most consistent source of creativity.