'Amazing' - Djibril Soumaré's Stoke City impact hailed ahead of Sheffield United reunion
Djibril Soumaré will go up against his former club when Stoke City take on Sheffield United at the bet365 Stadium on Saturday.
Stoke City defender Luke Graham has hailed the impact of former Sheffield United midfielder Djibril Soumaré ahead of his reunion with his former club this weekend.
Soumaré spent last season on loan at Bramall Lane from Portuguese club SC Braga, making 27 appearances before moving to the bet365 Stadium in June and signing a three-year contract.
Signed for a fee that could reportedly eventually be worth up to £3.4 million, the 23-year-old has made nine appearances for the Potters so far this season, featuring in each of their first seven Championship matches.
After starting the Championship opener against Swansea City on the bench, the midfielder has started each of the Potters’ last six league games, helping them overcome their poor start to the season. After losing each of their first three matches, Mark Robins’ side have picked up ten points from their last four games.
With their performances and results improving in equal measure over the last couple of weeks, the Potters will be chasing a fourth win in five games when they face the Blades at the bet365 Stadium on Saturday lunchtime.
Soumaré is expected to feature against his former club, meaning he will be eager to impress against Chris Wilder’s side. Having established himself as one of the first names on the team sheet, he has quickly made an impression on his teammates, not least former Dundee defender Graham, who was linked with a move to Bramall Lane earlier this year before being snapped up by Stoke.
“Djib’s been amazing,” said Graham, as quoted by The Sentinel. “He’s a brilliant character to have around the dressing room as well as being an absolute unit on the pitch.
“You know if you can give Djib the ball he’s going to do something with it and try to create. Him being in front of that back line takes the pressure off us, too.
“He’s sweeping up all the time and he’s been brilliant.”
Asked if Soumaré is quiet off the pitch, Graham added: Djib? No, he’s mental. He’s off his head!
“He’s brilliant, a great character to have around.”