Is van Aanholt part of the problem and the solution at Sunderland?

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Sunderland are bottom of the Premier League and are yet to register a win under new boss David Moyes.

A player that will always divide opinion on Wearside is Patrick van Aanholt.

The Dutchman can be brilliant one week, with his offensive ability providing a much needed boost for Sunderland, yet other weeks his defensive capabilities are stripped bare for all to see.

One Sunderland fan summed up the problem surrounding van Aanholt perfectly, detailing how he can be such a positive and a hindrance at the same time.

The Premier League season is still only young, but we have already seen the best and worst of the left-back. Van Aanholt has two goals to his name so far this season, scoring in the 2-1 defeat to Middlesbrough before netting the equaliser against West Bromwich Albion last time out.

In contrast, the 26-year-old has probably cost the Black Cats more goals at the opposite end, with errors against Manchester City, Everton and Crystal Palace meaning the red and white net was breached.

The problem lies around his defensive attributes, or lack of. Despite a strong period under Sam Allardyce where van Aanholt looked a relatively competent defender, Sunderland’s number three has reverted back to his old ways of failing to do the basics at the back.

If David Moyes wants his side to be solid, then playing van Aanholt is always going to be a risk, unless he can get the Dutch international to recapture his form from late last season.

However, dropping van Aanholt would mean that Moyes would be without one of his best attacking talents, and there is already enough pressure on Jermain Defoe to get goals as there is.

When Jason Denayer arrived on loan, Moyes stated that the signing would give his team the option to play three at the back, and that could be where the Scot gets the best out of van Aanholt.

As a left wing back, van Aanholt will still be able to make forward runs from deep and create chances, while having less of a responsibility at the back, but that would depend on Moyes having total trust in his three centre-backs.

This system worked in the latter stages against West Brom, and it could be the way forward for Sunderland to get the best and avoid the worst out of van Aanholt.