How Sunderland Summer Signings Fared As Trio Make First Starts In Hull City Carabao Cup Win

Sunderland beat Premier League rivals Hull City 1-0 in the third round of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday evening, with three of the Black Cats' summer signings making their first starts in the red-and-white stripes.

Regis Le Bris made a plethora of changes from Sunderland's 1-1 draw at Brentford at the weekend, rotating his entire starting XI for the Carabao Cup clash, seeing new trio Dayann Methalie, Jules Ahoka and Malick Fofana making their first starts for the club following Fofana's cameo at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Overall, the cup clash was certainly an unthrilling affair, with very little between the two sides but a distinct lack of impetus and intensity from both Premier League sides until the scores opened in the second half.

Chemsdine Talbi, who will be staying at Sunderland following his discussions with Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad, broke the deadlock for the Black Cats with a delightful dink on the 70-minute mark with a timely reminder of the quality he possesses.

Aside from the Moroccan, the Stadium of Light faithful witnessed an interesting glimpse into what the £65m trio can provide in their debut Sunderland seasons ahead.

Following his £25.7m arrival from Toulouse, French youth international Methalie made his debut for Sunderland in his favoured left-back position, deputising for stalwart defender Reinildo.

Within his 65-minute outing, before being substituted for fellow summer arrival Thomas Meunier, Methalie enjoyed a 91 percent passing accuracy despite some early sloppiness in possession.

In addition, the 20-year-old made two defensive contributions, won three out of five ground duels, and also played three passes into Sunderland's final third to influence the outing in both defence and attack.

Overall, it was a positive performance from the physically imposing full-back, but it will be unlikely to see him displace Reinildo from the Sunderland starting XI for the upcoming clashes against Arsenal and AZ Alkmaar.

Perhaps the most impressive of the summer trio, £8.6m arrival from Royal Antwerp, Jules Ahoka, enjoyed a phenonemanl performance in his Black Cats debut in the heart of Le Bris' midfield.

The 20-year-old showed composure and prowess beyond his years against Hull, and showcased his potential to dictate the game in defence and attack, with key moments in each third for Sunderland.

DR Congo youth international Ahoka took the joint-most shots (three) of any player on the field, with just one of those hitting the target, and completed the joint-most defensive contributions (12) throughout the cup clash, according to FotMob data.

The glossy and energetic Ahoka was signed by Sunderland as cover for captain Granit Xhaka, and although the Hull win is evidently a small sample size, the Black Cats appear to have added a more than capable understudy for the Swiss veteran.

After making his Sunderland debut in the Premier League off the bench at Brentford, in which he delivered the cross for Wilson Isidor to win Enzo Le Fee's equalising penalty, Fofana was granted his first start by Le Bris against Hull following his £30.8m arrival from Lyon.

Fofana's pace and dynamism threatened down the left flank of Sunderland's attack, but it was clear that the Belgian international is still acclimatising to the increased physicality of English football in comparison to the French top flight.

On the ball, Fofana was polished with a 91 percent passing accuracy, but he lacked the impetus in attack that Talbi employed, seeing the 21-year-old fail to register a shot on Hull's goal before being withdrawn on the 78-minute mark.

Clearly, it will take time for the ex-Lyon starlet to fulfil his potential at Sunderland, but the Hull cup win offered some vital minutes, experience, and the growth of connection with his new teammates.