When Sunderland signed Marc Guiu on a season-long loan from Chelsea, I admit that I thought it would lead to Wilson Isidor becoming a forgotten man on Wearside.
There were moments last term when watching Isidor was like gazing at a prime Thierry Henry. The way he rolled Ethan Ampadu at Elland Road, that solo goal away at Hull City and the deft volley over Coventry City goalkeeper Brad Collins, he could do it all.
However, what followed that strike away at Leeds United was a run of 13 games without
a goal. What was more concerning was his presence. He seemed completely void of confidence and lost in Regis Le Bris’ system, but why?
It must be remembered that Sunderland, as a team, struggled to find any sort of form at the end of the Championship season. Within Isidor’s cold streak, the Lads only picked up four wins, while they failed to score in seven of those games.
Not that I want to take supporters’ minds back to that horrific run, but Le Bris’ team as a whole were an incredibly tough watch at times and can now be forgiven if they were going through the motions, as they call it.
But how does that link to Isidor? Well, I think it is clear that the quality was always there and not that I’m criticising the players who were around him, but a frontman needs service, and that just did not come in many of those games.
While Isidor started this particular contest on the bench, the away trip to Norwich City highlighted how unthreatening we were. Yes, we mustered three shots on target, but the creativity just wasn’t there.
Now, we are five games into the Premier League season, and our centre-forward has three goals, behind only Erling Haaland.
What is more remarkable is that the 25-year-old has only started two of those matches, meaning that he has three goals in 236 minutes of football, and that is before we even discuss his xG of 1.02.
Of course, it is far too soon to suggest that Isidor is going to bag 20 Premier League goals, but he deserves immense kudos for turning around his form and reclaiming his position in a stellar Le Bris side.
A factor that I think has allowed Isidor to score his goals is the sheer quality in and around him. While it just had to be Eliezer Mayenda who provided his first goal, it was, unsurprisingly, Granit Xhaka who provided his others.
Indeed, Xhaka is not only going to be a key ingredient in the break-up of play, but his threat in the final third and decisive passing are going to create chances for our forwards. While our captain can be praised for creating chances, somebody must be there to finish, cue Isidor.
Some will still have their doubts over the former Monaco man because of what transpired last season, and that is fine. He still has a point to prove. During his short time on Wearside, he has suffered his setbacks, cough, cough, Burnley, cough, cough, but look at him now – the second top scorer in the Premier League.
Say what you want about Isidor, but he is already proving himself in one of the toughest leagues in the world. I, for one, am sorry I ever doubted you, Wilson, but keep on doing what you’re doing, and you’ll forever have my heart.
