Striker. Inspiration. Derby Day Hero — That’s Brian Brobbey!

SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - APRIL 12: Sunderland's Brian Brobbey vies for possession with Tottenham Hotspur's Micky van de Ven and Kevin Danso during the Premier League match between Sunderland and Tottenham Hotspur at Stadium of Light on April 12, 2026 in Sunderland, United Kingdom. (Photo by Lee Parker - CameraSport via Getty Images) | CameraSport via Getty Images Yes, ‘Sliding doors moments’. Yes, Chelsea’s recall of Marc Guiu after a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it loan spell at the Stadium of Light.

Yes, a move that opened up a window of opportunity for Sunderland to sign a striker whose numbers for Ajax were more than impressive before an unthinkably traumatic series of off-field events derailed his career in Amsterdam, with Kristjaan Speakman and Florent Ghisolfi prepared to take a chance, present an opportunity to Brian Brobbey and offer him the prospect of a new start at the Stadium of Light — and holy cow, is it paying dividends. The path that led Brobbey to Wearside might’ve been somewhat haphazard but after another dominant (albeit non-scoring display) against Tottenham on Sunday, the young Dutchman showed that following his derby heroics and iconic St James’ Park celebration, he’s still got more than enough in the tank to spearhead Sunderland’s push for European football. If it’s goals you’re looking for, he’s delivered some priceless ones — and could be twenty-plus next season, in my view — but his hold-up play, ability to get his teammates into the thick of the action and ferociously competitive nature make him the perfect man to lead the Régis Le Bris’ coached attack.

It’s no slight on Wilson Isidor and Eliezer Mayenda — two fine players in their own right — but simply a ringing endorsement of Brobbey. What’s made his impact all the more remarkable is the fact that notwithstanding his personal strife, he was some distance behind his teammates in terms of fitness and game-readiness upon arrival, having not enjoyed the benefit of a pre-season programme and needing to bide his time when he first joined. That’s mentally tough for an elite athlete but the way he’s acquitted himself has been exceptional.

Prior to his arrival and the impact he’s subsequently made, the only other striker of the Stadium of Light era that was as physically dominant, capable of such impact and able to brush off defenders like autumn leaves was Niall Quinn. Not even the brilliant Ross Stewart turned opposing centre backs to ashes in such a manner, and a comparison between Brobbey and the iconic Irishman may seem hyperbolic but who else is there, really? Kenwyne Jones was probably the next in line when it came to leading attack with such dynamism (something to which even John Terry attested), but other than the classy Trinidadian, I’m struggling.