admin“He was exceptional and man of the match”- Alan Shearer and Troy Deeney name ‘exceptional’ Sunderland star in Teams of the Week after Burnley win
Sunderland midfielder Habib Diarra delivered a standout display against Burnley, earning widespread praise after Monday night’s emphatic 3-0 victory at the Stadium of Light.
The Senegal international was rewarded for his performance with a place in Alan Shearer’s Premier League Team of the Week, after making a huge impact on his first start for the Black Cats since September. Diarra wasted no time announcing his return, firing the shot that forced Axel Tuanzebe into an early own goal before doubling Sunderland’s advantage shortly after the half-hour mark.
It was a dominant showing from the 22-year-old, who combined impressively with striker Brian Brobbey during just his seventh appearance in red and white. His debut season in English football has been heavily disrupted by injury and a month-long absence at the Africa Cup of Nations, but his return has clearly lifted Sunderland’s midfield.
Shearer, clearly impressed, highlighted Diarra’s influence in his weekly column, noting: “Showed what his club were missing while he was away at AFCON.”
The Newcastle United legend’s XI also featured Brentford trio Caoimhin Kelleher, Kristoffer Ajer and Sepp van den Berg, Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate, Arsenal winger Noni Madueke, Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott, Manchester United veteran Casemiro, Chelsea forward Joao Pedro, and Liverpool attackers Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike.
Diarra’s performance did not go unnoticed elsewhere either, with BBC Sport pundit Troy Deeney also naming him in his Team of the Week. Deeney said: “It says a goal and an own goal, but it’s basically two goals for him. He was exceptional. The wide players absolutely killed Burnley and he was at the heart of it.”
Sunderland head coach Régis Le Bris was equally full of praise after the match, stressing just how important Diarra could be for the remainder of the Premier League campaign.
Speaking in his post-match press conference, Le Bris said: “It’s like a new signing for us. We spoke this week about a fresh start. We supported him through his injury and through AFCON, and we were convinced that when he came back, he would show his quality.”
He added: “He’s not just talented — he’s very competitive. He wants to win, to press, to score, and he brings us energy, which is vital in this league. He was one of our first signings and helped set the tone for the project. He joined the squad late, but now I hope he can keep producing performances like this.”
With Diarra now back and firing, Sunderland look set to benefit from the quality and intensity their record signing brings to the heart of midfield.
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