Sunderland have made a record-breaking start to their Championship season, winning all four of their opening matches and conceding only once, thanks to a goal by Luke O’Nien.
Unsurprisingly, the Black Cats sit at the top of the Championship table, fueling hopes for promotion this season. The entire squad has been impressive, but several players have particularly stood out.
Defender Luke O’Nien has been outstanding, aside from his own goal, and Eliezer Mayenda has made a notable impact with two goals and two assists. The midfield trio of Jobe Bellingham, Chris Rigg, and Alan Browne have also shone, but Dennis Cirkin has been statistically exceptional.
Returning from an injury-hit season, Cirkin has quickly made his mark, providing an assist on the opening day and scoring his first goal in 16 months against Sheffield Wednesday. According to WhoScored, he is currently the third-highest-rated player in the Championship with a rating of 7.61, trailing only Matt Clarke (7.63) and Karamoko Dembele (7.68). Jack Clarke would have topped the charts with an 8.31 rating if he hadn’t moved to Ipswich Town.
Cirkin has made the joint-most interceptions this season (10) and contributed significantly to Sunderland’s three clean sheets. His presence is crucial, and an injury to Cirkin would be a substantial blow to both the defense and attack.
Although Niall Huggins and Aji Alese are sidelined, Cirkin has become a key player for Sunderland. He has formed a strong partnership with Romaine Mundle, providing vital support on the attack. If Cirkin were injured, his potential replacement, likely Leo Hjelde, would struggle to match his impact.
In just four matches, Cirkin has established himself as one of the top left-backs in the Championship.
