OPEN THAT WINDOW!
The No.1pullout that scores EVERY time Coleman can’t wait
SUNDERLAND boss Chris Coleman will feel like the new kid on the block when the transfer window opens next month.
Coleman, who takes his struggling Black Cats to leaders Wolves today, is desperate to strengthen his injury-hit squad. And he can’t wait to start wheeling and dealing, although the former Wales boss admits he’s playing catch-up with his rivals. “It could be dangerous that I’ve been out of it for so long,” he said. “I haven’t been at it in the transfer market for six years. “But there’s an excitement about it for me. “In club management, I used to think January ®Êby IAN MURTAGH was manic. I didn’t want to lose this player, I was in a fight to sign that player – I never really looked forward to it.
“But this time it’s new to me and I see it as another way for me to turn around this club.
Tempted
“New faces would be good for us. Will there be money available? Maybe we’ll have to be cute and clever.
“Perhaps we’ll lose one or two ourselves. We have to be open-minded and make the very best of it.”
Coleman is tempted to hand a first league start to teenager Joel Asoro, who has impressed coming off the bench in the past fortnight.
And while he is ready to turn to youth to keep the club in the Championship, he refuses write off long-serving Lee Cattermole who is struggling for form.
“That will come back,” he added. “Catts is super important to us.”
Meantime, Wolves star Diogo Jota, who was flattened in Monday’s 1-0 win at Birmingham by a challenge from Marc Roberts, says he was prepared for rough treatment when he moved to Molineux on loan from Atletico Madrid.
“When I arrived here, I already knew what I was expecting,” he said. BRISTOL ROVERS boss Darrell Clarke could name the same side for the third successive game, so Ellis Harrison and Billy Bodin are set to continue in attack.
Southend will have midfielder Michael Timlin available again, but centre-back Rob Kiernan (leg) is expected to be out for around two months. NICKY AJOSE could keep his place in the Bury attack, while defender Greg Leigh has a chance of returning after illness forced him off during the Checkatrade Trophy win over Walsall.
Kwesi Appiah (hamstring) and Dean Parrett (groin) are both out for AFC Wimbledon. CHARLTON have Ben Reeves (hamstring), Billy Clarke (calf), Harry Lennon (groin) and Jason Pearce (knee) back in contention after injuries.
Pompey captain Brett Pitman is on course to return from a hamstring injury, but Ben Close (thigh), Kai Naismith (knee) and Dion Donohue (back) are all out.