Sunderland signed defender Chris Mepham on a season-long loan deal this summer and he has quickly impressed on Wearside.
Sunderland have started this season very well and are leading the pack after 10 games.
The Black Cats secured another three points at the weekend, beating Hull City 1-0 thanks to a controversial yet brilliant Wilson Isidor goal.
Regis Le Bris has turned the club’s fortunes around after their disappointing second half of last season. The Frenchman was appointed off the back of a relegation with former club FC Lorient, leaving many fans sceptical off his ability to lead the Black Cats; however, he has revitalised this Sunderland side.
The Black Cats have produced a host of impressive team performances, with the weekend win over Hull City just the latest in a string of strong displays.
These efforts have been significantly helped by their defensive line, with summer loan signing Chris Mepham a particular standout. The Welshman has been a rock at the back, quickly prompting calls for him to snap up permanently.
Mepham’s influence
Mepham joined on transfer deadline day and did not need much time to settle in the North East. He made his debut in the Wear-Tees derby against Middlesbrough and has started every game since.
The Sunderland loan man has played every minute since he made his debut across five games, averaging a 7.26 match rating (Fotmob).
Mepham was a real standout against Hull City at the weekend, where he showed his defensive strengths. He has formed an excellent partnership alongside long-term servant Luke O’Nien. The pair look like Le Bris’ best defence partnership and it could prove tough for the highly-rated Dan Ballard to return to the side after injury.
Top-level experience
At 26 years old, Mepham is hardly a veteran. However, he already has lots of experience to his name, both at the club and at the international level.
That experience is proving valuable for a Sunderland side that has been lacking proven senior quality and pedigree for too long. Mepham had 89 Championship appearances to his game prior to his arrival and won promotion to the Premier League with Bournemouth in the 2021/22 season.
He’s also played 61 times in the Premier League with his parent club. That, along with his 47 international caps, offers a pedigree and experience that shines through when watching him play for Sunderland this term.
Looking towards January, the Black Cats should be eyeing a move to keep Mepham beyond his existing loan. He’s a different profile to the usual permanent target, but these recruitment changes have been a big success early on and they must be considered in future transfers.
