"I do expect" - Prediction made on Sunderland AFC star Salis Abdul Samed | OneFootball

FLW's pundit believes the returnee from long-term injury will "grow" during Sunderland's Championship promotion push

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Sunderland have found out they have a “good option” in midfield following the return of a summer signing from a long-term muscle injury.

Salis Abdul Samed has been a complete unknown for a lot of Sunderland fans until January, with the Ghana international sidelined with injuries since joining the Black Cats.

Now with a few appearances of Championship football under his belt, the 24-year-old is starting to show what he is capable of for Sunderland.

Salis Abdul Samed could “grow into a good player” after injury lay-off

The holding midfielder arrived at the Stadium of Light towards the end of the summer transfer window, signing on a season-long loan from Ligue 1 outfit RC Lens.

Despite only being 24, Abdul Samed brought experience of playing in the Europa League and World Cup to Tyneside – and with it, some lofty expectations.

But in one of his final training sessions with Lens the midfielder pulled a muscle, before a repeat of the issue occurred whilst rehabbing the issue with Sunderland.

That left Abdul Samed sidelined until the turn of the year, with the Lens loanee ending a torrid five-month spell out with his club debut off the bench against Stoke City in the FA Cup.

Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris has been cautious with rushing Abdul Samed back, with the midfielder subsequently starting three Championship matches alongside a further three appearances from the bench.

After finally getting a look at their summer signing, Sunderland fans are starting to form an opinion about the Ghanaian international.

When asked by Football League World for his first impressions of Abdul Samed, FLW's Sunderland fan pundit Jordan Newcombe suggested that whilst the midfielder was currently a rotation player, he could see the 24-year-old grow in the coming weeks.

FLW's Black Cats fan pundit Jordan shared: “Regarding Abdul Samed, I think his first game he wasn’t great, he wasn’t the best.

“But he did make a good impression for the first time coming in for others, as well as last night.

“He did do well. Some games they have had to start him due to little knocks and injuries to others, but I think he could grow into a good player and it is starting to show that.

“He can keep the ball well, he can hold up as well.

“I think he is definitely one of those players where he is definitely a rotation player.

“Sometimes he may not be a starting player, but overall I actually find him alright.”

Salis Abdul Samed could become a “good option” for Sunderland during run-in

When Abdul Samed arrived on Tyneside, it was not expected for the Black Cats to be involved in an automatic promotion race against sides with parachute payments.

But fast forward five months, and Sunderland are one of four clubs vying for two automatic promotion places.

In that regard, Abdul Samed has been thrown straight into the fire, with Sunderland needing all hands on deck to maintain their promotion push.

Jordan believes the pressure of the race for automatic promotion will help improve Abdul Samed in the coming weeks.

“He’s decent,” Jordan restarted.

“I do expect him to get a lot better in the coming weeks, leading up into the promotion race where it gets even closer to what it is now.

“But overall, I think he’s been a decent player so far. Yes, he’s had his one or two games where he hasn't been his best.

“But other than that, I think he's been rather decent. It’s definitely a good option to have since he came back from his injury.”