For while the attacker was at home leading the line as a centre-forward, it was said that he was equally as comfortable playing on the left flank.
That, though, is not something that has appealed to Regis Le Bris this season, quite simply because Isidor has been such a hit playing through the middle. And, as Le Bris often says, even when the Frenchman is not scoring – and he hasn’t hit the net in his last 11 appearances – he still offers the side an awful lot playing at the top of the pitch.
But what about now? With Romaine Mundle out injured, Tommy Watson having underwhelmed in recent weeks and Eliezer Mayenda shining up-front – though he is unavailable to face Oxford today – is there any temptation for Le Bris to shift Isidor out to the left for next week’s visit of QPR and perhaps even the play-offs, depending on Mundle’s situation?
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“I think I will leave it open for the opposition coaches,” said Le Bris.
That suggested it might be a possibility. Only for the head coach to then pretty categorically rule it out.
“In my mind, we only have two strikers available right now,” he added.
“It’s good to have two fit strikers and I think they are both really connected with our collective output. Sometimes some players can be a little bit selfish, they want to be the main striker, ‘the main man’ on the pitch.
“These players aren’t like that, they are good team mates and I will make the decision at the end.
“For me what it is the best to start and the second maybe to come off the bench and hopefully help the team.”
From late December to mid-February, Isidor was in fine goalscoring form, scoring seven times in 11 outings. But he hasn’t hit the net since the draw with Leeds at Elland Road.
And while Mayenda’s concussion means Isidor will get another chance in from the off at the Kassam Stadium this afternoon, there’s a growing argument that the Spain Under-21 international should be Sunderland’s starting striker in the play-offs.
But Le Bris is backing Isidor to click back into gear in front of goal in time for the play-offs.
“The players always need support,” he said.
“We had it in a very short period with Patto, for example.
“We need to support the players. Me, the staff, fans, we can be disappointed because a player hasn’t reached their best or with a striker they haven’t scored for a while but if a player’s body language is good, he is working hard, is connected with his team mates – these are the basics for the future.
“This is the case with Wilson. Sometimes it’s just a question of a click – but not too early! The play-offs is our target. With Wilson, really I am confident.”
