ALAN BROWNE helped recommend Aaron Connolly to Sunderland – and is confident the club have signed a “top, top player” if they can get him back firing on all cylinders.

Connolly joined the Black Cats as a free agent last month, having been without a club since leaving Hull City at the start of the summer, and was an unused substitute as he featured in a matchday squad for the first time under Regis Le Bris during Friday’s draw with Leeds United.

The 24-year-old was regarded as one of the most exciting young talents in the country when he broke through at Brighton in 2019, but has failed to live up to his early potential, with subsequent spells at Middlesbrough, Venezia and Hull proving largely underwhelming.

Browne played with Connolly with the Republic of Ireland, and while his former international team-mate has had his ups and downs, he is confident the forward still has plenty to offer provided his talents can be channelled in the right way.

“The club spoke to me briefly about him (Connolly), although I don’t think I was the deciding factor (in the decision to sign him), said Browne, whose prod forward led to Sunderland’s remarkable stoppage-time equaliser against Leeds on Friday night.

“We spoke about it, and knowing him from the past and having played with him, there’s a top, top player there. It’s just a case of getting the best out of him.

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“He’s settling in quite well with the group already, so hopefully once he gets up to match fitness, he’ll be another option for us, and a great option at that. Even last season, his goalscoring form wasn’t too bad, so hopefully he can add to the strikers that have been firing already.”

Friday’s draw with Leeds meant Sunderland headed into the international break sitting at the top of the Championship table. They have made an impressive start to the campaign, although Le Bris continues to stress the importance of remaining level-headed.

“You can feel the positivity around the place, although it’s always easy when you’re winning games,” said Browne. “The real questions will be asked when we’re not playing well or not getting results, which will happen.

“That’s just the way the league is. I think it’s good to enjoy the highs, but not get carried away. Then we won’t get too down when we’re losing either.

“Whether you’re a young player or an older player, that’s the message in the dressing room, right from the top. Don’t get carried away, and don’t get too down. That’s the way we’ll be proceeding going forward.”