{"id":317063,"date":"2025-12-15T11:08:10","date_gmt":"2025-12-15T11:08:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/317063\/"},"modified":"2025-12-15T11:08:10","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T11:08:10","slug":"motd-loved-what-granit-xhaka-was-spotted-doing-off-the-ball-in-93rd-minute-vs-newcastle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/317063\/","title":{"rendered":"MOTD loved what Granit Xhaka was spotted doing off the ball in 93rd minute vs Newcastle"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Granit<\/p>\n

(Credit: Imago, Match of the Day)<\/p>\n

\"Evan <\/p>\n

Mon 15 December 2025 7:50, UK <\/p>\n

Granit Xhaka has been in the spotlight for Sunderland yet again in the aftermath of their Tyne-Wear derby victory over Newcastle.<\/p>\n

The Black Cats climbed back up to seventh in the Premier League<\/a> table with a 1-0 victory over their bitter rivals on Sunday afternoon, with Nick Woltemade\u2019s<\/a> own goal proving to be the difference between the two teams.<\/p>\n

Ex-Everton and Aston Villa CEO Keith Wyness<\/a> has backed Sunderland to keep hold of Regis Le Bris<\/a>, despite interest mounting from other clubs after an excellent start to the season. <\/p>\n

Xhaka<\/a> arrived as one of a remarkable 14 new signings in the summer, and he has quickly become an integral part of their team.<\/p>\n

\"RegisCredit: ImagoJoe Hart raves about Granit Xhaka\u2019s game intelligence<\/p>\n

Xhaka has received plenty of praise at Sunderland<\/a> for his performances so far this term, and he has looked to be back to his best after several years away from the Premier League. <\/p>\n

The Switzerland international has been away from English football for the last two seasons, before the Mackems brought him back from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer. <\/p>\n

Le Bris<\/a> quickly named him as captain of his group, and has since started the ex-Arsenal man in every league game so far this season. <\/p>\n

MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES<\/p>\n

It isn\u2019t enough to describe Granit Xhaka as the signing of the season, he could well be the most transformative addition to a Premier League squad in the modern era.<\/p>\n

On Sunderland\u2019s day of days, as they prepared to face their bitterest rivals, the former Arsenal man and Bayer\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/km8H59x7Ji<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) December 14, 2025<\/a> <\/p>\n

View Tweet<\/p>\n

Xhaka played a key role for his team in last weekend\u2019s fiery derby, and Joe Hart<\/a> was quick to praise him for a moment of off-ball intelligence that he showed during the dying embers of the game.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is Xhaka, we talk about him being such an experienced professional, this is the 93rd minute here and he takes one for the team,\u201d Hart said on Match of the Day<\/a>, analysing the moment when Xhaka was left bleeding after winning a challenge from a late Newcastle<\/a> corner.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe realises that he\u2019s not going to get a foul for it, so he\u2019s got to get up. It\u2019s the 93rd minute, all hands to the pump. <\/p>\n

\"GranitCredit: Imago<\/p>\n

\u201cWalking off the field as a centre-midfielder with blood dripping from your eye and a 1-0 win, that is a great feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gary Neville left fuming with stoppage-time Xhaka incident<\/p>\n

Gary Neville was Sky Sports\u2019 co-commentator for Sunderland\u2019s win<\/a>, and he was fuming with the aftermath of the stoppage-time incident involving Xhaka. <\/p>\n

The 33-year-old was eventually forced into having treatment on the side of the pitch for his cut, which then left his team defending with 10 men for an entire 30 seconds after he returned to the fray. <\/p>\n

Neville<\/a> emphasised his dislike for that rule during Sky Sports\u2019 coverage, and branded it \u201cabsolute madness\u201d that Xhaka had to remain sidelined for such a lengthy period after receiving swift treatment.<\/p>\n

The 30-second period is currently mandatory after every head injury in the Premier League, but Neville seemingly wants to see that rule altered moving forward.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n