🪄 Black Cats talisman closes on Sunderland icon with assist vs Leeds | OneFootball

If Sunderland's return to the Premier League remains one of the hot topics of the 2025/26 season, then Granit Xhaka's immediate impact at the Stadium of Light could deserve even greater praise.

The 33-year-old veteran Swiss international has enjoyed himself since leaving Arsenal three seasons ago, helping Bayer Leverkusen achieve an invincible season in the 2023/24 Bundesliga campaign before returning to English shores this summer in a £13 million move.

Thus far, the Basel-born midfield fulcrum has been worth every pound, with Sunderland on course to climb up to fifth in the table thanks to a 1-0 half-time lead against Leeds.

A first goal of the season by Simon Adingra is the difference on the scoreboard, but it was Xhaka turning creator for the fifth time this season that is perhaps more noteworthy.

With that, Xhaka closes to within one assist of Sunderland cult hero Andy Reid for the most assists by a Black Cats player before January in a top-flight season since 2009-10.

And with Xhaka's single-season career best (7) just over the horizon, he could be in line for further praise before its all said and done.

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