Pierre Ekwah must fear for his Sunderland AFC future after triple emergence: View | OneFootball

Sunderland's midfield trio has really shone so far this season, meaning it will not be easy for Pierre Ekwah to walk back into the team.

Sunderland have enjoyed a flying start to their Championship campaign.

The club entered a new era over the summer as Frenchman, Regis Le Bris took charge of the club following a season of inconsistency.

There would have been some reservations about the appointment, as he was a reasonably unknown name to the large majority of Sunderland fans, but he has put those doubts to bed almost instantly.

His Sunderland side currently top the Championship table, having picked up an impressive 19 points from their first nine games. There were times last season when the Black Cats would struggle for goals, and with Jack Clarke leaving, there were worries that the problem would worsen, but it has gone the other way.

Sunderland are the current top scorers in the division, having scored, on average, two goals a game. They manage to score goals from all over the pitch, with 10 different players opening their account for the season already, in the Championship alone.

Le Bris has finally instilled a sense of belief at the club and the players play with real confidence. Sunderland have the youngest squad in the league, but the Frenchman has worked with youngsters in his home country for many years, so has managed to get the best out of some of these players.

The midfield, in particular, has stood out despite their ages, and it will be leaving one star currently out on loan wondering if he will be able to get back into the team.

Sunderland's young midfielders shine

For the majority of their games so far, Sunderland have witnessed a midfield trio of captain Dan Neil, Jobe Bellingham and Chris Rigg.

It is crazy to think that they are just 22, 19 and 17 years old respectively, as their performances have suggested otherwise.

Rigg especially has had a lot of trust placed on him due to his age, but is really proving his worth as a regular starter in the Championship. The 17-year-old is the full package in terms of central midfielders; he can do the defensive work as well as push forward when necessary.

He has grabbed two goals already this season and, as a result, has attracted interest from Manchester United, who are prepared to step up their pursuit of the midfielder.

Dan Neil and Jobe Bellingham have both been incredibly reliable in the middle of the park for Sunderland, and have supported Rigg in both an attacking and defensive sense. Bellingham has played every minute of every Championship game for the Black Cats so far this season and has been consistently solid.

As a midfield trio, they are arguably the best in the Championship, which, considering their ages, is an impressive feat.

While this will excite Sunderland fans, Pierre Ekwah must be looking on wondering how on earth he is going to reattain his place in the starting eleven.

Pierre Ekwah's current situation

Ekwah was a mainstay in the Sunderland midfield last season, making 40 Championship appearances and contributing to seven goals, but now it is hard to imagine him getting back in the team.

In August, the midfielder departed the club on loan to join St Etienne in his home nation in order to get regular game time. Ekwah had fallen down the pecking order with Rigg, Bellingham and Neil all stepping up, so leaving on loan felt like a sensible decision.

It is believed that St Etienne have the option to purchase Ekwah at the end of the season for €7 million, which looks increasingly likely to happen.

He has made four Ligue 1 appearances for St Ettiene this season in the defensive midfield role, and has been involved with two wins, a draw and an 8-0 loss.

With Sunderland's current midfield performing exceptionally well, Ekwah must be thinking about his future at the club.

The only way he could make a return to the starting eleven is if Rigg or Bellingham get picked up by bigger clubs.