‘We lost that type’, Gus Poyet on why Sunderland’s Brian Brobbey poses a unique problem | OneFootball

Former Sunderland manager Gus Poyet has hailed Brian Brobbey’s old-school centre-forward play after his decisive display at Newcastle United.

The Dutchman struck in the 90th minute to seal a 2-1 win at St James’ Park, his sixth of the campaign since a deadline-day move from Ajax last summer.

“It's incredible because I knew him from my time with the Greek national team. He was a substitute in the Dutch national team, if I don't remember wrongly, and you could see his strength and the way that you can use him.”

He told Sunderland Echo.

“I think we lost that type of striker lately because we’re looking for a striker to drop, to run behind, and he's the kind of striker that if you give him the ball and he's holding the defender behind, the defender has no chance to come around him. He gives you an extra option that is lost in football a little bit.”

Speaking on The Rest Is Football, Newcastle great Alan Shearer said Brobbey was likely Sunderland’s standout and noted the £17million fee from Ajax, contrasting it with Newcastle’s summer spend on forwards, which he called a major problem. He added Sunderland wanted it more after the break, said Eddie Howe got it wrong at the Stadium of Light, and accepted Sunderland deserved the win.

Brobbey’s form has also been recognised by Ronald Koeman, who has recalled him to the Netherlands squad for the first time since March last year.

Source: Sunderland Echo