Jan Kirchhoff's debut was one to forget as, after he was brought on, he managed to deflect a shot into his own net and give away a penalty as Sunderland went on to lose 4-1 to Tottenham Hotspur in a day that the defender will want to forget in a hurry.
But Sam Allardyce has come to his new signing's aid and urged the fans not to jump on his back. He has asked them to instead give him a second chance as he adapts to England and the Premier League, with the former Bayern Munich player having suffered backlash ever since the performance.
Adjustment time
There are very few players who come from foreign leagues and settle into the Premier League straight away, simply due to the pace and physicality of the league being at a level that very few others can compare too.
Allardyce looked back to his Bolton Wanderers days this week, highlighting how some of the club's greatest ever players struggled upon their arrival, but went on to be crucial parts of his success there.
One player he mentioned was Ivan Campo, who was branded a "clown and a joke" by "disgraceful pundits," despite coming from a Champions League winning Real Madrid side. Pundits claimed his performances were nothing "like a footballer" as he was mocked over his hair.
Allardyce also revealed how Jay-Jay Okocha was "almost begging" him to be substituted (which he was) during his debut for Bolton, a player who went on to be one of the greatest midfielders in the Premier League.
Players quickly learn how "difficult this level is," but the Sunderland boss knows that people learn to "adjust" and can go on to have very successful careers in England, which is something he hopes Kirchhoff does "quickly."
Allardyce is of the opinion that players from other leagues are watching the English game thinking, "I'll be all right," and that isn't always the case, but he held his hands up and took full responsibility for Kirchhoff's poor performance last weekend, saying he "was to blame."
The experienced manager feels that the centre-back was "thrown in the deep end" when he was brought on as a substitute against Spurs, and it gave the him a "major shock," but he now has to react, which Allardyce has backed him to do due to his "confidence in his own ability."
Looking ahead
Despite last weeks defeat and the second half horror showing, Allardyce and his squad are now firmly looking ahead to this weekend's fixture with Bournemouth, a game that provides a great chance for the Black Cats to continue their good form as they look to escape the relegation zone.
Kirchhoff is expected to once again start on the substitute's bench, and he is set to be joined by young goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, who has been very impressive since debuting for the club.
Even though Pickford has made a big impact during his short time back at the club, Allardyce insists that "Vito Mannone is first choice," meaning Pickford is set to drop to the bench. However, that doesn't mean his boss isn't encouraged by what he's seen, as he insists there is now "strong competition" for the goalkeeping spot.
The squad will be hoping to quickly get back to winning ways against the Premier League's new boys, but the Cherries won't be afraid of Sunderland - especially after beating them earlier this season. It's sure to be a difficult game for Allardyce's men, and a crucial one for them in their relegation battle.