{"id":512842,"date":"2025-10-19T21:49:31","date_gmt":"2025-10-19T21:49:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/512842\/"},"modified":"2025-10-19T21:49:31","modified_gmt":"2025-10-19T21:49:31","slug":"mukiele-17-pointer-pereira-on-strand-larsens-fitness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/512842\/","title":{"rendered":"Mukiele 17-pointer + Pereira on Strand Larsen\u2019s fitness"},"content":{"rendered":"

A first Sunderland goal for Nordi Mukiele<\/strong> (\u00a34.0m) helped secure victory for Regis Le Bris\u2019 side on Saturday, as Wolverhampton Wanderers suffered their sixth defeat in eight league matches.<\/p>\n

Here are our Scout Notes from the Stadium of Light.<\/p>\n

MUKIELE IMPRESSES AT RIGHT-BACK<\/p>\n

Nordi Mukiele opened his Sunderland account on Saturday and offered a real attacking threat from his position at right-back.<\/p>\n

The 27-year-old, who joined from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer, impressed throughout, linking up well with fellow full-back Trai Hume<\/strong> (\u00a34.5m) to give the hosts the lead, with the goal coming from a sequence following a long throw.<\/p>\n

Hume later struck the post himself after Mukiele\u2019s long throw had been flicked on, before Chemsdine Talbi<\/strong>\u2019s (\u00a35.0m) low cross was turned into his own net by Ladislav Krejci<\/strong> (\u00a34.5m).<\/p>\n

Tactically, Dan Ballard<\/strong>\u2019s (\u00a34.6m) return to the starting XI saw Mukiele move to right-back, with Hume switching flanks to play on the left of the back four.<\/p>\n

And with Reinildo<\/strong> Mandava<\/strong> (\u00a34.0m) now free from suspension, Le Bris certainly has plenty of defensive options at his disposal.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cIt wasn\u2019t a new option because Trai played as a left-back last season, and probably before that too. Ballard deserved to play, and showed good qualities, especially against a strong striker like Strand Larsen. The balance was positive, and I think this back four showed good qualities. It was important to switch to a back five at the end, and we have different profiles and different options that allow us to do that. That kind of defensive flexibility is important.\u201d \u2013 Regis Le Bris<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

As for Mukiele, he claimed 17 points in total, thanks to his goal, a clean sheet, defensive contribution (DefCon) points and the maximum bonus.<\/p>\n

He is now just one point behind teammate Omar Alderete<\/strong> (\u00a34.1m), who recovered from a knock to start, in the FPL defender rankings, despite having played 134 minutes fewer.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cHe has really good energy. He is a good player with a specific profile. He always shows this energy to go forward. Sometimes we have to manage that energy.\u201d \u2013 Regis Le Bris on Nordi Mukiele<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Further forward, Granit Xhaka<\/strong> (\u00a35.0m) dictated the tempo from the base of Sunderland\u2019s midfield and earned DefCon points for the fifth time in eight matches (62.5% success rate).<\/p>\n

With 101 in total, he is now only one DefCon shy of midfield leader Moises Caicedo<\/strong> (\u00a35.8m).<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Above: Midfielders sorted by defensive contributions in 2025\/26<\/p>\n

IN-FORM SUNDERLAND\u2026 BUT HAS THE BOAT SAILED?<\/p>\n

Sunderland\u2019s win on Saturday continues their fine start to the season \u2013 they have yet to lose at the Stadium of Light, winning three of their four home encounters.<\/p>\n

They\u2019ve also kept four clean sheets overall \u2013 the joint-third-most of any team.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201c\u2026 we defended together, showed this togetherness again, this ability to suffer together, and get this clean sheet, which is positive.\u201d \u2013 Regis Le Bris<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Robin Roefs<\/strong> (\u00a34.6m) didn\u2019t have too many saves to make against Wolves, yet he played his part, bringing his points total to 48, which is at least five more than any other goalkeeper.<\/p>\n

Fantasy investment may still come his way, although many may feel that the boat will have sailed, given the fixtures.<\/p>\n

Sunderland host Everton at the start of November, but over the next eight Gameweeks, sit bottom of the Fixture Ticker<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"PEREIRA ON STRAND LARSEN\u2019S FITNESS<\/p>\n

Winless Wolves remain rooted to the foot of the table, having failed to score in four of their eight matches so far.<\/p>\n

While better after half-time at the Stadium of Light, they struggled to break down a resolute Sunderland defence, generating just 0.78 expected goals (xG), whilst failing to create a single big chance.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

It means Jorgen Strand Larsen<\/strong> (\u00a36.4m) is yet to score a Premier League goal this season, as he continues to play with an injury.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cThe problem of your Jorgen is he\u2019s not working every day, in the last weeks he worked one or two times in the week, and it is difficult to get at his best level, because he cannot have two, three training sessions in a row, because he needs to control the pain on the tendon.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut, this is a moment to forget the pain and he\u2019s trying to help. He\u2019s not the Jorgen I saw last season, pressing everybody, now he is struggling in the pressing, struggling to do he wants to do, to attack the space, but he\u2019s trying. I need to defend him because he\u2019s working not at the 100 per cent.\u201d \u2013 Vitor Pereira on Jorgen Strand Larsen<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Despite his own goal, it\u2019s also worth noting that \u00a34.5m defender Krejci produced another two shots at the Stadium of Light.<\/p>\n

Since making his first league start in Gameweek 4, he\u2019s now combined five goal attempts with four chances created.<\/p>\n

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