“It was a great option that presented itself and I really pushed for him to come,” said Sébastien Pocognoli. The recruit in question is Simon Adingra, whose adaptation to life at AS Monaco has been seamless.

“In general, I adapt well at my new clubs,” said Adingra with a beaming smile following the Principality club’s 2-0 win over SCO Angers on Saturday evening. That, however, wasn’t the case at Sunderland, where he struggled following his summer move from Brighton and Hove Albion. It was his middling start at the Stadium of Light that presented Monaco with the chance to bring him in on a loan deal, which includes the option to make the move permanent at the end of the campaign.

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Adingra – Monaco’s Swiss Army Knife

But in just four games in Ligue 1, Adingra already has three goals, including a sublime finish against Angers. The winger nonetheless started the game from the bench. After a tepid, scoreless 45 minutes, the Ivorian was introduced and changed the course of the game, with Le Sco manager Alexandre Dujeux recognising the “important role” that the Sunderland loanee had in ASM’s victory, which extends their unbeaten run in Ligue 1 to six games.

It is not just his goals that are proving valuable to a Monaco side that are returning to form. It is also his versatility, with Adingra having already played at wing-back, left-wing, and in a more central role. “The manager has already played me in three positions,” Adingra told Get French Football News in his post-match mixed zone interview. “He picks the team and it is up to me to adapt.” He has certainly done that.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle – reporting from Monaco