Sunderland: Ross Stewart comparisons unavoidable after Hull City | OneFootball

Wilson Isidor's goal against Hull City will inevitably draw comparisons to former Sunderland man Ross Stewart

Sunderland's excellent start to the 2024/25 season continued with a 1-0 win over Hull City ensuring they remain top of the Championship after ten games.

The Black Cats were made to work hard for the three points after having just two shots on target in the entire game, but that won't bother supporters as they returned home from East Yorkshire with the win.

Striker Wilson Isidor was the difference as he scored a controversial goal in the 63rd minute to seal the win, and his summer loan move from Zenit St Petersburg appears to be a fantastic move so far.

The goal at Hull was the 24-year-old's third in his last four Championship appearances, and he appears to be a vast improvement on the club's strikers last season who endured a tough season in front of goal.

However, his recent performances have drawn comparisons with former Black Cats man Ross Stewart, and if he's anywhere near as successful as Stewart was, then Sunderland could have a real gem on their hands.

Isidor has been building nicely since his summer move from Zenit, but his goal at Hull was one that really made people sit up and take notice, with his pace being on show for everybody to see.

Former Black Cat Stewart was known for his pace and ability to beat defenders, and the way that Isidor pounced on the loose ball, accelerated past the defenders and slotted the ball past Ivor Pandur was a sight to behold.

It didn't take too long for the comparisons between Isidor and Stewart to emerge on social media, with some of the Sunderland faithful saying that their current striker is actually quicker than the Southampton man.

Stewart joined Southampton in the summer of 2023 where he's failed to make an impact thanks to injury, but watching Isidor on Sunday, it was clear that he's the best striker Sunderland have had since the Scotsman left for St Mary's over a year ago.

Someone with Isidor's speed and composure in front of goal is what Sunderland have been desperately lacking, and if he could pop up with goals like that on a regular basis, then Regis Le Bris would have a serious player on his hands.

Sunderland have an option to buy Isidor at the end of the season, and if they were to activate that option then he could be someone who makes the club big money in the future, just like Stewart did.

Isidor's really beginning to show what's capable of English football, and his performance at Hull would certainly have brought back some fond memories of Stewart's time at the club.

Sunderland may have struck gold with Wilson Isidor signing

It's important not to get too carried away after just three Championship goals, but while it could be argued that his goal came from poor Hull defending, you can't underestimate just how good a finish it was.

There's no substitute for pace, and Isidor looks to have bags of it, and it means he'll be a real problem for Championship defenders this season.

Sunderland's strikers were quite frankly woeful last season, with Eliezer Mayenda, Mason Burstow, Nelson Semedo and Naz Rusyn scoring just three goals between them, a tally which Isidor alone has equalled in his last four games.

Stewart scored 11 goals in 15 Championship appearances during the 2022/23 campaign, so it's easy to see why Isidor is being compared to him after his recent prolific spell in front of goal.

It was clear that Sunderland needed to address their striker problems in the summer, and they certainly have done that with Isidor's addition. If he continues to score goals on a regular basis in the Championship, then he may just prove to be as influential as Stewart was.