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Formal or informal? It reveals much about Habib Diarra that his delight at being promoted from the youth ranks at Strasbourg to the senior squad was tempered by anxiety over the two French words for “you.”

Would addressing new, older teammates by using “tu” be regarded as too familiar? In the end, the young midfielder played safe and chose the more polite “vous”. Cue widespread amusement from the veterans who told him not to be so silly; he was one of them now.

“Once I received the first call with the coach, I sat down and said to my parents: ‘Sunderland’s where I want to be; that’s where I want to play.’ England's top flight was always a ambition of mine and the coach presented me with a well-defined and appealing project.”

Roughly half a decade later, Diarra is sitting in an office at Sunderland’s Academy of Light detailing why he turned down offers from, among others, several top European clubs. His innate courtesy remains but it is evident that the young Senegal international and doubt are practically unacquainted. Diarra carries himself with the confidence suited to a player who led Strasbourg at the age of 20 and, only last month, returned from Morocco clutching an Africa Cup of Nations winners’ medal.

A Defined Vision

With the groin injury that sidelined him for much of the opening months of the domestic season healed, Diarra is on a mission to show exactly why he agreed to become Sunderland’s most expensive acquisition last summer. Pundits in France and Senegal queried Diarra’s surprising decision but he knew all about the manager's reputation as a talented youth coach.

“It came as no shock by the coach’s capabilities because I already knew what he’s capable of,” says Diarra. “Playing against his teams I realised he was very good, very strong tactically. He’s someone I know is helping my game progress. And although our primary aim is reaching 40 points, a place in Europe is certainly a realistic target this season.”

A Unified Environment

Externally, the chilly February wind and driving rain makes the region look as bleak as it is often stereotyped. Internally, things are considerably warmer. The atmosphere is devoid of the type of strain notable at certain clubs where administrative staff are kept apart from first-team players. Diarra portrays the environment as “very organic” and commends Le Bris’s role in its formation.

“Our manager repeatedly states to us that we’re like a family here and we all support each other,” he says. “We’re all proud of each other.”

Liberty and Structure

If the structure, rigor and sheer hard yards underpinning Sunderland’s out-of-possession shape are a testament to the head coach’s attention to minutiae, Le Bris also likes his players to think for themselves. He offers his engine room players complete licence to improvise and interchange positions.

“The coach sets his tactics out within a framework but we have license to play within it,” says Diarra, who prefers to be deployed as a all-action No 8. “Out on the pitch that is empowering. That autonomy is so important. Our captain, Granit, helps us a lot. He’s a really big player and a superb role model.”

Path and Settlement

Diarra is using a French interpreter but his English has advanced to the point where he can understand most questions. He is now concentrating on acquiring the vocabulary to also answer them, which would be his third language. He is proficient in Wolof, the language he spoke in his youth in Guédiawaye near the Senegalese capital.

His precocious maturity helped him combat the disappointment of needing an operation followed by four months on the sidelines last autumn. “Being injured so soon after arriving here was disheartening, for sure,” he says. “But it was up to me to handle the situation.”

Diarra is now anticipating playing in this summer’s World Cup. Given Senegal have been drawn in the same group as France, a poignant reunion awaits the former Les Bleus under-21 midfielder. “I enjoyed representing for France but my heart spoke,” says Diarra. “There’s no regrets. I was born in Senegal; it fills me with pride to play for them.”

Similar emotions apply to Sunderland. “I’ve adapted very well,” he says. “I am really comfortable here.”