I said previously that I could not contain this list to only five players and I’m here to back up that statement. Here are another couple of players that I expect to do well for the Lads this season.
ISAAC LIHADJI
Lihadji is a tricky one to speak about in all honesty, like Bennette he hasn’t really had a run out in the first team throughout the whole of his tenure he at the SoL. But I really think he has all the attributes to do well in the English football pyramid, this is because you would never be sought after by clubs like Manchester United and Barcelona if you weren’t good. He hasn’t hit the ground running in his first season in red and white that is for certain, partly due to not being given many minutes but I do believe that there is a crafty, intelligent player there, he’s shown glimpses in the pre-season games so far. Isaac only had six appearances in the Championship last season which only totalled 79 minutes out of the games he played whilst not picking up a goal nor an assist, but this season I expect a bit more involvement in the squad for the young French winger (whether that be here or in Qatar, we’ll see).
JENSON SEELT
Seelt is one of our new arrivals this summer swapping the city of Eindhoven for Wearside. He was signed, Seelt but has not yet delivered, I expect him to this year bringing height and an aerial presence to our back line that we much needed towards the latter end of last season with the injuries to Batth and Ballard. The young Dutch defender could be a great defender in the future, and I think that the development that he gains from his involvement in the first team this year is going to be essential for that to happen. I think that he will be gradually implemented into the first team whether that be through cup competition or being brought on for more minutes every couple games. Jenson Seelt will be a sublime piece of business from Speakman and KLD.
NECTARIOS TRIANTIS
Nectar is an unknown quantity as people didn’t know much about the Aussie when he arrived on Wearside other than that he comes here with a trophy to his name having just won the Australian A-League with the Central Coast Mariners last season. The preseason games have shown a glance of what you can expect of Nectar, a good ball playing centre-half with his height being a great advantage to the team and to him. Similarly, to Seelt, I don’t see Nectar starting straight away but rather be slowly implemented into the first eleven over the course of the season. I think that this year he will show glimpses of what he can become and what he is best at. As I mentioned previously, he is no stranger to success; he was named into the A-League Team of the Season for the 2022/23 season seeing the West Coast Mariners being crowned champions of the A-League. Let’s hope he continues that success here.
JOBE BELLINGHAM
Following his brother with a summer move, Jobe switched the Midlands for the city of Sunderland on a four-year deal. A lot of speculation followed Bellingham with him previously visiting the SoL in 2022 and then 2023 with the play-off home leg against Luton Town. He has said “the Stadium of Light is the best atmosphere” he has played in and hopes to carve his own footballing story which he can achieve here at the SoL. I think he has the highest upside out of our new additions this summer and I think that his development will excel through the roof here in red and white. Again, like Nectar and Seelt, I don’t see Jobe starting straight away but I expect him to perform at the highest level in a SAFC shirt.
