"Hope he doesn't rock the apple cart" - Sunderland AFC warned over potential Aaron Connolly risk | OneFootball

FLW has been speaking with our Sunderland fan pundit, to hear their thoughts on the Black Cats' widely reported free agent signing of Connolly.

Sunderland are set to complete the signing of free agent striker Aaron Connolly, after the Republic of Ireland international was released from Championship rivals Hull City at the end of last season.

The Black Cats are reportedly closing in on the 24-year-old forward, who is looking to get his career back on track after an up and down couple of seasons.

Connolly was very highly thought of at Brighton & Hove Albion, after making his first team debut at just 17. After making 52 appearances for the Seagulls, 45 of which came in the Premier League, the young striker was sent out on loan to Middlesbrough, Venezia and Hull City respectively over recent seasons.

He would sign a one-year deal with the Tigers at the start of last season, but after scoring eight times for the club last term, Hull decided against extending his contract at the MKM Stadium.

Sunderland fan pundit: "Hope he doesn't rock the apple cart"

FLW's Sunderland fan pundit, Eddy Bamber, believes that if Connolly can replicate his scoring form from his time at Hull City, capturing his signature on a free will have been a good deal. But, concerns over his reputation in regard to attitude and application are difficult to ignore.

Bamber said: "In regard to Aaron Connolly, Sunderland's journalists seem to think it's a done deal. On a free..., it depends really, because he seems to have a reputation as being a bit of a problem player, so to speak.

"I don't actually know the details of why, but there seems to be a lot of people alleging that he's quite difficult. So, I hope he doesn't rock the apple cart.

"The team seems to be in really good spirits right now, and there seems to be unity. So, that seems like a gamble throwing him into the mix.

"However, you never know he might have an unfair reputation. We don't seem to sign players like that, so if the club trust him to come in and be a good influence, I think it's worth a go.

"He scored eight goals last year for Hull, so if we sign him on a free and he scores eight goals this season, then he'll have done his bit."

Connolly has confessed to prior attitude problems

Connolly's reputation surrounding his attitude and professionalism largely stems from his time with Brighton and Middlesbrough, in which both were called into question on numerous occasions.

Speaking on the RTE Sport Podcast in 2022 via Teesside Live, former Irish internation David Connolly - no relation - said: "I’ve been at the Amex and I’ve sat behind him when he’s sat on the bench and he doesn’t seem the most enthusiastic to go and warm up. I just wonder what he’s like when he’s not playing. He wasn’t happy he wasn’t playing at Brighton, so he’s gone to Middlesbrough and he’s still not played, or at least he wasn’t starting much."

In fairness to Connolly, the striker has admitted to lacking professionalism in the past, and speaking with the Irish Mirror in 2022, he stated: "I’ve got a good group of people around me now, a good group of mates… the old circle I used to be around off the pitch, I’ve had to make my mind up.

"At the minute I’m probably the forgotten man in Irish football and if I kept associating with people I’d been associating with before, I would have completely gone off the scale.

“Now I think I’ve turned that around and hopefully people will be able to see that with performances and work rate and hopefully goals. The association I had with people off the pitch and away from the training ground, it was never going to benefit me in any way, being around people in certain places.

"The support network I have around me right now, friends and family, the people that are in my life right now, they are only helping. They don’t want anything from me.

“That love for football has probably faded in the last three seasons. Everyone can probably tell by my performances at times. And maybe the way I carried myself on the pitch and sometimes off it.

"Now I’m in a better headspace, you look back at games and think, ‘Was I really walking around for that long? Did I really have my head down for this long? Did I really walk around like that?’

“At the time when people were telling me, I didn’t want to listen or hear or see what they were saying to me was right."

Connolly could be shrewd addition if he arrives with right mindset

Should Connolly complete his move to Sunderland, there is a strong chance that he could play an important role in Regis Le Bris' side from the off.

Deadline Day recruit Ahmed Abdullahi has been ruled out for up to three months after undergoing surgery on a groin injury, leaving 19-year-old Eliezer Mayenda as the first-choice centre forward for the Black Cats.

Behind him, Sunderland don't appear to have the greatest strength in depth, with Nazariy Rusyn yet to show any real sign that he can be a reliable option at Championship level.

Wilson Isidor is Le Bris' only other senior striking option, but the Frenchman is more of a versatile forward player rather than an out and out striker.

Therefore, Connolly could instantly take on the role of the number two centre-forward straight away, and with Mayenda still being just a teenager, Le Bris will likely want to exercise caution in regard to overworking him despite his excellent start to the season.

If the Irishman is in the right frame of mind and ready to work hard and compete for playing time at the Stadium of Light, he could be a very shrewd addition to an already strong side.