Alan Shearer and Troy Deeney pick 'exceptional' Habib Diarra after Sunderland’s 3-0 win | OneFootball

According to Sunderland Echo, Alan Shearer named Sunderland midfielder Habib Diarra in his Premier League Team of the Week after Monday’s 3-0 win at Burnley, with Troy Deeney also selecting the 22-year-old.

It was Diarra’s first start since September and he quickly influenced the game, his shot forcing an early Axel Tuanzebe own goal. He then made it 2-0 just after the half-hour.

The record signing dovetailed well with Brian Brobbey during his seventh outing for the club. His debut season has been interrupted by injury, then a month away at the African Cup of Nations.

Shearer wrote that Diarra showed Sunderland what they had been missing while he was at AFCON. His XI also featured Caoimhin Kelleher, Kristoffer Ajer, Sepp van den Berg, Ibrahima Konate, Noni Madueke, Alex Scott, Casemiro, Joao Pedro, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike.

Deeney said the midfielder effectively had two goals to his name and called him exceptional, adding that the wide players dismantled Burnley with Diarra central to it. Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris described his return as like a new signing, said the club supported him through injury and AFCON and praised his energy, desire and competitiveness, while hoping he can sustain this level.

Source: Sunderland Echo