The talented young player has had limited appearances for the Black Cats this season. Sunderland has had a strong start to the 2023/24 Championship season, currently sitting in the playoff positions as they head into the October international break.
Sunderland is in fourth place in the league, winning six of their 11 matches and losing four under the management of Tony Mowbray. Last season, they reached the playoff semi-finals but lost to Luton Town, who eventually earned promotion to the Premier League.
Now, Sunderland aims to do better, and early signs are positive, as they are in contention for another top-six finish. Notably, youth has played a crucial role in the team’s success this season, with four of their top five performers being under 25 years old, with Bradley Dack, 29, being the exception.
Sunderland has assembled a squad filled with promising young talents, and one standout prospect who could become a star under Mowbray’s guidance is Costa Rican international Jewison Bennette. Despite being an unused substitute in a recent 4-0 defeat to Middlesbrough, many believe it’s time for the head coach to give this exciting forward a chance after the international break.
In the match against Middlesbrough, Patrick Roberts, who started on the right wing, struggled both on and off the ball, leading to a disappointing performance. Roberts attempted four shots, missed a significant scoring opportunity, and faced difficulties in breaking down the opposition’s defense. He also made only one key pass and failed to create any significant scoring chances for his teammates. His lack of physicality was evident as he lost most of his duels and contributed little defensively.
As for his goal-scoring record this season, Roberts has not scored or provided an assist in nine Championship matches. In fact, he has not been directly involved in a goal in 585 minutes of play, which is a stark contrast to his performance last season when he contributed five goals and seven assists.
Roberts has also struggled in duels, losing 57% of them this season. However, he has maintained a solid pass accuracy of 88%, indicating his ability to retain possession under pressure. Nevertheless, his lack of goals and assists raises questions about his role in the team’s promotion bid.
Considering this, Mowbray might want to consider benching Roberts for at least one game to give Bennette a chance to shine. Despite playing only eight minutes in the Championship this season, Bennette managed to register an assist. His brief cameo showcased his dribbling and playmaking abilities, earning him attention at the youth level, where he has performed impressively, contributing one goal and two assists in three Premier League 2 games.
In total, Bennette has been directly involved in four goals in five matches for both the first-team and academy combined this season. In contrast, Roberts is still searching for his first goal or assist of the season.
As Sunderland faces Stoke City after the international break, Mowbray, who once described Bennette as an “electric” player, should consider starting him in the league for the first time. Bennette has yet to make his full Championship debut, but his performances for the U21 side and his brief appearances for the first team suggest he has the potential to make a significant impact in the final third.
Standing at 5 feet 8 inches, Bennette has produced impressive numbers in the U21 games and has already contributed two assists in the second tier, despite not starting a league match in over a year. With Roberts struggling in the attack, Bennette could be the game-changer the team needs, given his ability to score and create goals from a wide position. Therefore, it’s time for Mowbray to unleash him on the opposite flank to Jack Clarke and see if he can seize this first-team opportunity.
Leave a Reply