Three to Watch: Udinese built to spring forward on the counter

Before their last-gasp loss against Inter Milan last weekend, the Zebrette had been undefeated in three out of their last four matches – having picked-up ten points in the process. Led under the tutelage of Udine-native Luigi “Gigi” Delneri - a manager is no stranger to the Giallorossi, having coached the team from 2004 to 2005 – Udinese are now a true counter-attacking side.

Our columnist believes these players could be crucial to the successful, or otherwise, implementation of that strategy.

Sven Kums

Signed this past summer by sister-club Watford, the Belgian defensive midfielder has highly impressed in his season-long loan.

The 28-year-old is a powerful player with expertise in tackling and ball interceptions, as well as being an accurate long-passer that likes to initiate the attack.

He currently leads the team with almost four tackles and two interceptions per match, while also having grabbed an assist.

With 17 matches played, Kums is a likely starter for Delneri and one of the manager’s most dependable players. His deep passes will pose a tricky test for the Giallorossi, if they allow themselves to become dispossessed in vulnerable areas.

Cyril Théréau

Originally gaining fame from scoring after a half-field dribble in Belgium, the striker moved to Udine in 2004 following a four-season adventure with Chievo Verona.

With eight goals and two assists thus far, he has also provided 20 scoring chances for his teammates – proving he is much more than a traditional striker, possessing some classic No. 10 abilities as well.

At 1.89 metres tall, Thereau is an omnipresent aerial threat, while he is capable from shooting long-range just as well from inside the keeper’s box.

Thereau is shooting on goal with 68% accuracy this season, but an athletic performance should be enough to prevent the wise striker from finding space for another game-turning goal.

Jakub Jankto

Having returned from a loan spell at Ascoli ahead of the new season, the 20-year-old has gradually begun to establish himself at the Dacia Arena, despite his relative inexperience.

A skillful and pacy if somewhat lightweight attacking midfielder, Jankto already has two goals and an assist to his name in Serie A this season from just seven starts – proving more influential in the final third, if perhaps not overall, than the more diminutive but similarly technical Rodrigo De Paul.

Something of an unknown quantity for a number of the Roma defenders, Jankto’s style and eye for goal (his quick thinking and direct style have seen him notch against Juventus and Inter Milan this term) may prove to be one of Udinese’s more potent attacking weapons on Sunday afternoon.