WHY IS HE STILL STARTING? SUNDERLAND FANS QUESTION KEY PLAYER FOLLOWING FRUSTRATING COVENTRY SHOWING

Sunderland supporters have made their feelings clear after another frustrating performance from one of the club’s attacking players during their dramatic Europa League victory over Torreense.

Although the Black Cats eventually secured a memorable 2-1 comeback victory in Portugal, not every player left the pitch with his reputation enhanced. One particular attacking performance has attracted criticism, with sections of the Sunderland fanbase questioning whether the player deserves to retain his place in the starting lineup.

For a club enjoying an exciting return to European football, the result was certainly important. However, the performance raised several questions, especially about Sunderland’s attacking quality and their ability to turn possession into meaningful opportunities.

The travelling supporters had every reason to celebrate when Noah Sadiki produced a stunning stoppage-time finish to complete the comeback. Nevertheless, the victory did not completely hide the problems that had been visible throughout the evening.

Sunderland entered the contest hoping to continue their positive European start, but they discovered that Torreense were not going to make life easy for them.

The Portuguese side defended with determination, closed down spaces and made it difficult for Sunderland’s attacking players to find the right combinations.

Despite enjoying periods of possession, the visitors struggled to produce the kind of attacking football supporters have come to expect.

The frustration became particularly noticeable when some of Sunderland’s wide players failed to make enough impact in the final third.

The match eventually demonstrated the importance of experience and quality, as Régis Le Bris introduced several senior players who helped transform the contest.

But the display of one particular player has continued to attract attention among supporters.