'What a footballer' - Tony Mowbray hails Sunderland youngster after Preston win

This Sunderland man put in a combative performance v Preston on Monday.

Luke Phelps | May 9, 2023

'What a footballer' - Tony Mowbray hails Sunderland youngster after Preston win /

Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray has hailed Pierre Ekwah after the Black Cats beat Preston North End on Monday.

Sunderland beat Preston 3-0 to seal a last-gasp play-off spot in the Championship.

There were several standout performances on the day but Ekwah's performance caught the eye in particular.

The 21-year-old joined on a permanent deal from West Ham in January and has since featured 14 times in the Championship.

But the game at Deepdale was only his fifth start, with the Frenchman having really stamped his place in the starting XI over the past few weeks.

Having his say on Ekwah, Mowbray highlighted Ekwah's off-the-ball impact, saying:

"That part of his game is really coming along, and I keep telling him that if he can develop that physical aspect of his game then what a footballer we've got because he can do amazing things with his fee. He's so clever with his feet, you can see how fast his feet are, and he can see pictures."

Mowbray continued:

"He's a good footballer, so if he can just add the off-the-ball stuff then he'll be even better. He's doing exceptionally well.

"He's a young boy who had never played a professional game before coming to Sunderland. He'd had a lot of U23 football, but you can see the talent and the physicality that he's got.

"I'm not sure he's brilliant in the air at the moment, but at least he's 6ft 1in so he can help us in that aspect of the game as well."

Ekwah is another example of how shrewd and exciting Sunderland's recruitment has become, and it looks like the Frenchman could play a key role for the Black Cats in their play-off fixtures v Luton Town given the amount of injuries in the Sunderland camp.

The first leg at the Stadium of Light kicks off at 5:30pm on Saturday.

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