During the first few months of the Regis Le Bris era, Sunderland have succeeded almost in spite of – rather than because – their attacking options.
Top of the Championship table heading into the November international break with the most goals in the division, yet Sunderland’s top scorer – Wilson Isidor – has just five to his name.
And while there is something to be said about sharing the goals around – Romaine Mundle, Chris Rigg, Jobe Bellingham and more have all contributed – a run of three successive draws, two of them 0-0 stalemates, means the upcoming January window is likely to spark plenty of discussion on Wearside about whether another number nine is required.
Teenager Elizier Mayenda is, obviously, a work in progress. The 19-year-old had scored just twice in 15 Sunderland appearances before his recent injury.
Aaron Connolly, meanwhile, arrived at the Stadium of Light looking to rebuild his career. A couple of ineffective cameo appearances thus far – Connolly struggled as Sunderland drew with Coventry despite taking a 2-0 lead last weekend – has done little to ease the notion that the Black Cats’ promotion hopes may rest heavily on Isidor’s shoulders.
Sunderland looked at in-form striker Goduine Koyalipou in the summer
The Frenchman has been a big hit since arriving on loan from Zenit St Petersburg in August. Isidor scored a ‘fantastic’ volley against Coventry, while continuing to put together a personal collection of Goal of the Season contenders.
Isidor’s form, at least, should help to offset any regrets Sunderland may be harbouring about not bringing in Goduine Koyalipou before the summer deadline.
HITC understands that Sunderland considered Koyalipou before shifting their attention to Isidor.
The Central African Republic international was named the top scorer in Belgium’s second tier last season. Hence the interest. And, after swapping Beveren for CSKA Sofia despite earning admiration from England, Koyalipou is now in line to make it two Golden Boots in consecutive seasons.
A brace during CSKA’s draw with Krumovgrad took his tally to six goals in his last four league outings. With nine in the Bulgarian top flight and 10 in 13 appearances across all competitions, Koyalipou is again setting the pace with his ‘unstoppable’ finishing, to quote local publication Top Sport.
“I have to work every day, to improve for the team,” Koyalipou tells reporters, via Sport Live, the 24-year-old’s flying start to life at CSKA. “I have a good relationship with the team.”
Sunderland need Wilson Isidor to continue scoring
Of course, if anything can be gleaned from the respective campaigns of Sunderland and CSKA Sofia, it’s that a prolific centre-forward is not the be all and end all.
Sunderland’s leading marksman may be six shy of Norwich City talisman Borja Sainz in the Championship’s Golden Boot battle. But that has not stopped the Wearsiders from installing themselves at the top of the table with a lead so commanding even three winless games has not knocked them from the summit.
All CSKA Sofia have to show from Koyalipou’s outstanding returns, meanwhile, is five wins from 15 matches. The capital city club are a remarkable 22 points adrift of runaway leaders Ludogorets even at the season’s early stage.
Yet, with the wins drying up for Sunderland and after failing to hit the net in two of their last three games, Regis Le Bris would surely welcome the addition of someone capable of easing the weight on Isidor’s shoulders.