The Sunderland manager wants improvement from the winger before handing him a regular Sunderland spot.
Sunderland’s Wahbi Khazri
Sunderland manager David Moyes has told the Chronicle that Wahbi Khazri must keep the ball better to star for his side.
The winger was a January signing for the Black Cats under former manager Sam Allardyce and played a key role as they avoided relegation last season.
He has barely featured at the beginning of this campaign, though, with just two appearances from the bench to his name.
That has largely been down to him returning late from international duty, as well as summer signings such as Adnan Januzaj taking his place in the team.
Wahbi Khazri scores the first goal for Sunderland
He remains a first team player but Moyes has told him he must keep the ball better if he is to feature regularly.
“My biggest concern, and I know exactly what kind of player he is, (is) when he plays he needs to keep the ball,” he told the Chronicle.
“He might not run as far as some but he needs to keep the ball better and that is something I have not yet seen. Simple.”
Sunderland’s Wahbi Khazri gestures to Patrick van Aanholt
A look at the stats certainly shows that Khazri does need to improve when it comes to keeping hold of the ball.
Last season he lost possession 16 times per game on average, which was the worst of any player in the Sunderland squad behind their three goalkeepers.
Even this season he has lost the ball seven times per game so far, despite only managing 58 minutes of action, further highlighting that Moyes is right to seek improvement before giving him a regular role in his team.
Sunderland’s Wahbi Khazri looks dejected after a missed chance
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