adminInspirational Sunderland signing is setting standards on and off the pitch
Granit Xhaka has been a big hit since signing from Bayer Leverkusen and has caught the eye of Black Cats hero Kevin Phillips
Granit Xhaka has proved a snip for Sunderland since his £13m move from Bayer Leverkusen.
While leading the team as skipper he has provided three assists in his six appearances so far.
Now former Sunderland striker and club legend Kevin Phillips has given an insight into what Xhaka’s team-mates think of him.
Speaking on talkSPORT, goal hero Phillips, who scored 118 goals in 223 appearances for the Black Cats, said he has heard the Switzerland international is a real leader on Wearside.
Phillips said: “I think Granit Xhaka has been an inspirational signing on and off the pitch as well from what I’m hearing – what he’s like in and around the training ground, setting standards.
“I can imagine he’s gone in there, he’s played at the very top with some of the best teams in the world, and set standards in the changing room – you know the players look up to him and he’s a leader.”
Xhaka amassed 225 Premier League appearances at Arsenal and has also played 32 games in the UEFA Champions League – along with an astonishing 139 caps for Switzerland.
He has come into Sunderland with the utmost professionalism and showed what a fantastic player he still is.
Crucially, Sunderland also tied the Swiss maestro down until June 2028, so he could quite possibly become a figurehead of a hugely successful period at the Stadium of Light.
The midfielder has played every minute of Sunderand’s six Premier League games so far, contributing three assists already this season.
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