Wilson Isidor insists he would relish the added competition if Sunderland were to sign another forward in the final four days of the transfer window.
The Black Cats have spent much of the last month assessing their attacking options, with Regis Le Bris having spoken about the need to add some more depth in the final third this month.
Talks over Ben Brereton Diaz and Tom Cannon proved unsuccessful, with the duo both joining Sheffield United, but while Le Bris has explained why he longer regards the purchase of a new ‘number nine’ as essential, there is still a collective desire to add a versatile forward player to the squad before the window closes on Monday night.
Sunderland continue to be linked with Westerlo forward Matija Frigan, although the financial terms of a potential deal are understood to be proving problematic, and have also expressed an interest in Chuba Akpom, although the Ajax forward is believed to be reluctant to move back into the Championship having previously played in the division for Middlesbrough.
Signing another attacker would increase the competition for both Isidor, who is Sunderland’s leading scorer with nine league goals this season, and Eliezer Mayenda, who has played through the middle to impressive effect on a number of occasions this term.
However, the former is not worried by the prospect of another forward joining in the next few days, and claims the added competition for places would benefit everyone.
“I’ve never had a problem with confidence,” said Isidor, who will be back in action on Monday when Sunderland head to the Riverside for the Tees-Wear derby with Middlesbrough. “The most important thing is that the team is winning, so if tomorrow I have to be on the bench or play with a new player, then that is fine. I just want us to win, that is the most important thing.
“I am really enjoying it here. The coach gives me a lot of confidence. I won’t lie, I don’t think I would be having the same performances or results if it was not him. The group has also helped me a lot, and the coaches have given me a lot of confidence too.”
Since being switched infield after starting the season playing on the flank, Isidor has spent most of his time stationed as a lone centre-forward.
In the last few weeks, however, Le Bris has begun to tinker with his attacking formation, starting Mayenda alongside Isidor in both the New Year’s Day home win over Sheffield United and the recent victory at Derby County.
Mayenda certainly looks more comfortable playing as part of an attacking pair rather than being stationed on the flank, and Isidor’s game also seems to be well suited to forming an attacking duo rather than being isolated up front.
Clearly, the final decision is Le Bris’, and there will be games where the need for an additional midfielder outweighs the potential benefit of playing with two strikers. As a general rule, though, Isidor would prefer to have support in attack rather than being asked to lead the line on his own.
“It’s true that sometimes, when I play up front by myself, I can feel a little bit alone,” he explained. “When Eliezer is playing with me, it brings more defenders onto him and creates more space for me to be able to run into.
“I like that. When it is Jobe (Bellingham) or Chris Rigg playing as the nearest player to me, they tend to play more deep. They play deeper, so it can feel like I am playing a little bit alone.
“Sometimes, that is better for the team though, and those players still have the quality to give me the ball. It doesn’t matter too much to me; the most important thing is to win, whether we play with one striker or two. I just want to score goals to make the team win.”
