'He deserves more' - Sunderland defender hailed as 'complete full-back'

Michael Beale believes Sunderland have a huge weapon in their side that they are not currently making the most of.

Sunderland defender Trai Hume put in ‘a complete full-back performance’ against Plymouth last week, according to Michael Beale.

The Northern Irishman is often the unsung hero for the Black Cats, delivering quality, physicality and consistency in a highly competitive Championship.

After the 3-1 win over Plymouth last week, the three goalscorers and Dan Neil took the bulk of the headlines, but Beale thought Hume’s performance was an absolute stand-out as well.

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Now he just wants to see that rewarded in the assists column too, and he has called on his wide players to make the most of the 21-year-old’s quality on the ball.

“I thought Trai Hume, at the weekend, had a real complete full-back performance,” Beale said.

“Not only did he defend well, he pressed well and harried well but his crossing at the moment – he deserves more and that’s something we’re working on with Jack and Paddy and Abdoullah Ba; when our full-backs are crossing the ball can they maybe attack the far post?

Trai Hume is too good… pic.twitter.com/ml11XfUZpH

— Second Tier podcast (@secondtierpod) February 8, 2024

“A lot of their goals come from dribbling but I think Trai should have maybe five or six more assists with our wide players arriving in the box. So you’re nudging these little things in.”

Beale has a fair point too. Hume only has one assist so far this season. That came all the way back in September in the 5-0 mauling of Southampton.

That day, Hume’s deep cross was headed in by Jack Clarke who arrived at the back post on the blindside of the fullback, and it’s exactly those kinds of goals Beale wants to see more of from Sunderland. 

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