Wilson Isidor has wasted little time in making his mark at Sunderland.

He may have arrived as an unknown quantity but, after a few outings from the bench as he acclimatised to English football, the Frenchman was promoted to the starting line-up this week and has had an immediate impact.

He scored on his first start at Watford and followed that in midweek with a goal on his first home start to help the Black Cats see off Derby County.

Isidor, who joined Sunderland on a season-long loan from Zenit St Petersburg towards the end of the transfer window, was actually signed as a left winger to replace Jack Clarke, but the Frenchman has shown in the last two games that he can be a real threat through the middle.

His goals at Vicarage Road and then against the Rams were very similar, with Isidor getting in front of his marker at the near post to finish first-time.

They were the kind of finishes that Sunderland have lacked since Ross Stewart picked up his season-ending injury in January 2023 before moving on to Southampton later that summer.

Eliezer Mayenda began the season spearheading Sunderland’s attack and scored a couple of goals in the win against Sheffield Wednesday but, once the Spanish striker was ruled out through injury, Isidor seized his chance and now looks set for an extended run in the side.

Sunderland fans have got behind Isidor and, for his part, the 24-year-old says he wants to stay on Wearside beyond the end of the season.

The deal which brought him to the North East included an option to make the move permanent and if he continues scoring on a regular basis, the Black Cats will surely grant his wish next summer.

The big question, of course, will be whether Isidor ends up in his natural left-wing position or continues playing as a striker.

Since Clarke’s departure, Romaine Mundle has stepped up to fill the vacancy out wide and has stood out in that position while also contributing three goals.

For now, with Mundle impressing on the wing and Isidor providing a cutting edge up front, there is no need to disrupt a successful formula.

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Sunderland’s defeat at Watford last weekend was something of a let-down, with two poor goals given away - one through a lack of marking and the other due to a clumsily-conceded penalty.

But, Regis Le Bris’ side responded in the right manner - just as they did after losing at Plymouth Argyle last month.

After Argyle came the home win against Middlesbrough, and after Watford came the win against Derby.

Sunderland’s excellent start to the season has seen them set multiple club records this season and the victory against the Rams set a new benchmark as for the first time they have won their first four home games without conceding.

It also saw them return to the top of the Championship as they prepare for tonight’s home game against pre-season promotion favourites Leeds United.

And last time Sunderland had 18 points on the board after eight games was 1998-99, a season that saw Peter Reid’s men promoted to the Premier League with a colossal 105-point haul.

There is a long, long, long, way to go yet. But the omens are good.

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Mick McCarthy taking on a bushtucker trial? Surely not!

My reaction to the reports this week that Sunderland’s old boss was being tipped for a place on the new series of I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here was one of disbelief, and I suspect most Black Cats fans felt the same.

But then came the news that one-time centre-back Anton Ferdinand had been confirmed - confirmed! - as a contestant on Dancing on Ice, and suddenly the possibility of Mick strutting his stuff in the jungle didn’t seem quite so outlandish after all.