When Brian Brobbey joined Sunderland at the end of the transfer window, plenty of Dutch eyebrows were raised. Many questioned the deal.
That tone is now changing. That’s at least if the latest from Soccer News is anything to go by. They cover comments from Rafael van der Vaart, who is full of praise for the Sunderland striker.
Brobbey heads into this international break on something of a high. He bagged a late equaliser in the draw with Arsenal over the weekend. That was his first goal for the Black Cats since joining in the summer transfer window.
He’s been slowly integrating himself into the set up at the Stadium of Light, playing a back-up role to Wilson Isidor so far.
But with a tally of one goal and one assist in 106 minutes, his importance is now growing. And Van der Vaart is impressed. In fact, he thinks he could end up going to the World Cup with the Netherlands.
Sunderland player has World Cup chance
“Memphis Depay will also have to stay fit, but he keeps scoring,” he wrote in a column for De Telegraaf.
“Gakpo is also delivering, and on the other wing, I’m happy with Donyell Malen. You can always throw Weghorst in if you really have to.
“But if Brobbey gets through at Sunderland – he’s been important to that team recently – then he’s not a bad option as an extra striker at the World Cup. I can’t get my head around that match against Germany. How well he played against such strong defenders back then was bizarre.
“It didn’t work out at Ajax but now look at what he’s doing at Sunderland. And just try playing against him as a defender. Not one of them enjoys being man-marked by him.”
That’s a complete change in tone for the Netherlands, where Brobbey was often ridiculed or written off as he struggled at Ajax.
To be fair to Van der Vaart, he did back Brobbey in January, when he was being linked with West Ham. Although the view of the striker somewhat changed as Ajax’s season grew older.
