Sunderland man Trai Hume has singled out one of his teammates for praise following yesterday’s 1-0 win over Hull City.
Sunderland headed to the MKM Stadium for a Boxing Day clash vs Hull City yesterday.
And a Jack Clarke goal in the second half handed new boss Michael Beale his first win in charge, following the disappointing 3-0 defeat against Coventry City in his opening game at the Stadium of Light.
There were several impressive player performances on the day; Jobe Bellingham was praised for his high-energy display, whilst Pierre Ekwah was said to be back to his best after a dip in form.
But Hume has singled out defensive partner Jenson Seelt for praise.
Trai Hume hails ‘outstanding’ Jenson Seelt after Hull win
Seelt started at right-back yesterday, with Hume on the left and Dan Ballard and Luke O’Nien in the middle.
The Dutchman is naturally a centre-back but he’s been filling in across the back-line over the past few weeks, mainly at right-back given injuries to the likes of Dennis Cirkin.
Speaking after the game, Hume said of summer signing Seelt:
“I thought he was outstanding today. The organisation in the back four with the two sitters and the attacking players being disciplined, I thought we were good.”
Seelt joined on a permanent deal from PSV in the summer. He didn’t make his league debut until the 3-0 win away at Sheffield Wednesday at the end of September, but the 20-year-old has now made eight Championship appearances for Sunderland, starting two of the last four league fixtures.
A new key player in the making for Sunderland?
Sunderland are making a good habit of bringing in younger players who are either unwanted at their previous team or struggling to get into the first-team, and making key players out of them.
Names like Niall Huggins, Alex Pritchard, Pierre Ekwah, and Jack Clarke fit that mantra, and Seelt could well be the next.
He’s a very versatile players and he’s shown that in his recent performances at right-back; he’s obviously a towering defender who can match the physicality of the Championship, but he still boasts a great degree of technical ability, and a rare ability to go past opposition players with the ball.
And Seelt has made great progression in the past few weeks; in his first start vs Middlesbrough back in October, Seelt really struggled and was hooked shortly after the hour mark, but his performance against Hull was an impressive one, like Hume says.
Seelt may well have done enough to earn another start against Rotherham United on Friday night, in Sunderland’s final game of 2023.