Mark Wood says…
I have to admit that back in the summer break following our promotion and before we had gone out and bought so much as a bootlace, I did feel that based on the performances of Dennis Cirkin last season
the left-back position was one of the areas I would have chosen to strengthen. In my opinion he started last season well in the Championship but after his spell out with a wrist injury he turned in a few iffy performances. With Reinildo away to the AFCON I wouldn’t say I viewed the return of Dennis with trepidation, but did wonder if he could make the step up to the Premier League.
Happily he has I think proved all doubters wrong since his return. He has had some criticism for the Leeds goal when he was high up the pitch but you can also ask who was meant to be covering him when he made the run forward? There has been some degree of tiredness there too, but that is understandable after he has had such a long absence from the starting eleven. He has shown shades of the promise he first showed as a 19-year-old for us back in League One, with plenty of forward runs to support Adingra who it has to be said isn’t always fully utilising that. Overall he doesn’t look out of place or overawed in the Premier League and would hold down a starting berth in quite a few other teams at this level for my money.
He has got a problem in that nobody has got the better of Reinildo all season and when we get back to Premier League action I can’t see him retaining his place in the starting line-up even though he probably does not deserve to lose it. He has probably moved up in Régis Le Bris’s thinking from third in the left-back queue to second. Out of contract in the summer it’s all about getting game time at this stage of his career.
As a fan I would fully understand why a player of still only 23 years old, eager to play football in a Premier League which he is showing he can cut the mustard in, would be reluctant to sign an extension and seek out a club that can give him a starting place.
Matthew Crichton says…
Cirkin has had an excellent month on Wearside and has more than earned a new deal, but a starting spot? Not just yet.
With both left backs with their respective national sides at AFCON, I must admit I was concerned that Cirkin was going to be thrust in to make his debut during an incredibly busy period, but I have to say that he’s relieved any anxieties I had.
A slightly over-ambitious and unnecessary press against Leeds aside, the 23-year-old has looked solid and not out of place at Premier League level. Against Manchester City, he was brilliant against the highly talented Rayan Cherki; against Everton, his technical side shone and he provides Sunderland with great depth at left back.
When you think back to the summer, it seemed his departure was all but sealed given we signed two left backs, but this opportunity to start is one he’s taken and thrived in, easily outperforming Arthur Masuaku who I think is likely to leave this month.
The problem he has is that Reinildo is quite a level above him and he’s been nothing short of brilliant this season. I think it’ll be great to see the two players compete in training — and hopefully Cirkin can stay fit and learn from him — but I do believe his minutes will be very limited unless the Mozambique international is injured or suspended.
For Cirkin himself though, he’s definitely proved he can play at this level and whether it’s a new deal at Sunderland or a move elsewhere, he has made a great impression of himself across the past month.
John Wilson says…
Last season, after the play-off final, the initial chat was all about who could make the step up and which areas would we have to strengthen in. Of course no one knew the fantastic investment and transfer window we were about to have. But one of the players I thought could make the step up was Dennis Cirkin.
On his day he was always an attacking, solid, and hard-working full-back. Of course there were the injury worries, and that was the main reason I thought we brought in Reinildo and “King Arthur”. Cirkin’s injury woes are still a concern. At the last home game against Manchester City he still sported the bandage on his hand.
How anyone could still need support on for what must be nearly a year was the source of much jibe and jokes around me at the SoL. He also had a very questionable showing in that final against Sheffield United. But I never doubted there was a Premier League player in there.
So from a personal level I’ve not been surprised at all about his recent performances. Even against Leeds – his Premier debut – I think he did well, and to some extent carried the can for their equaliser by pressing high when in fact he was probably told to, and it unravelled because Brobbey and Rigg didn’t join in the press. Whatever the case Dennis has grabbed his chance in the absence of Reinildo – and praise must be given to him for that. There is certainly no shame in being second string to Reinildo!
Sometimes absence makes people forget about you and your light starts to fade. In much the same way that people are now doubting there are Premier League players in Dan Neil and Alese – I think they can both eventually come good in their careers – but thankfully for Cirkin he’s had the opportunity to show his worth to the squad. And although I doubt he’ll keep the returning Reinildo out he has secured a safe covering berth in that position and no one should feel nervous about his name appearing on the team sheet. Get that contract signed mate, and continue your progression. It’s not impossible that he could gain an England call-up.
