Tony Mowbray will have some big decisions to make at Sunderland in the January transfer window, and the manager should consider getting rid of Leon Dajaku.
The German winger initially joined the Black Cats on loan from Union Berlin when they were in League One last season and impressed with his performances, registering four goals and four assists in 22 appearances to help the Wearsiders achieve promotion back to the Championship.
A clause in his loan contract which involved Sunderland earning promotion was activated, and he joined on a permanent basis in the summer, with it seemingly likely that he would continue to be a regular under Alex Neil in the second tier.
However, he has made just two starts so far this term and has been ousted by Amad Diallo on the wing. Also, Mowbray has preferred a four-at-the-back formation in recent months, which has limited Dajaku’s chances even further, as he featured as a wing-back on a number of occasions last season.
Kevin Phillips spoke to Football Insider last term about the importance of Lee Johnson getting the best out of the young winger, praising his performances in a Sunderland shirt.
The ex-Mackems marksman said of Dajaku: “They know he has a lot of talent. It is just about nurturing him and trying to get the best out of him because he is a young kid. Lee Johnson and his staff have been very patient with him.
“They knew he wasn’t fully fit when he came. It looks now as if they’re bearing fruit from that now. Lee Johnson, the coaching staff and the physio deserve huge credit for getting him fit and firing.”
Unfortunately, Dajaku is yet to showcase his obvious ability in the Championship, as he has rather struggled with the step-up in quality to the second tier so far.
Across his eight appearances in this division, the German has averaged a shocking 6.03 rating from WhoScored for his performances, which ranks him as the worst player in Mowbray’s squad to have made at least one start this season.
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While he is only 21, and it would perhaps be ruthless to get rid of him so early into his time as a permanent Sunderland player, you only have to look at the performances of fellow youngsters Diallo, Jack Clarke, Aji Alese and Ellis Simms – four of Sunderland’s top five players this season as per WhoScored – to see that Dajaku simply isn’t good enough at this point.
Therefore, Mowbray should look to get rid of him in January, rather than the German wasting his career and potential on the bench at the Stadium of Light.