Mac needs more than just first Aid
BENNETT: ‘FORGOTTEN HERO’ By FACES BATTLE TO GET IN SIDE
CLIVE HETHERINGTON
AIDEN MCGEADY is Sunderland’s “forgotten hero’’.
But former Black Cats captain Gary Bennett says the wily Irish winger can’t be sure of walking back into the League One side.
A knee injury has sidelined the former Republic of Ireland star for more than a month, but he is expected to be in contention soon.
Mcgeady, 35, has been the Cats’ talisman for much of his four-anda-half years with the club.
But Bennett, who received an MBE in the New Year’s Honours List for his work with anti-racism charity Show Racism the Red Card, insists Mcgeady has strong competition for a starting role in Lee Johnson’s promotion-chasing line-up.
Bennett, 60, said: “We forget about Aiden Mcgeady, whereas last season Sunderland were relying on him a lot. He’s their forgotten hero. It’s not a case of, ‘When is he coming back?’ It’s a case of, ‘When he’s fit, will he get back in the team?’ It’s about fitting into the style of play.
“We all know Mcgeady has great ability, but it’s about trying to keep up the tempo. Sometimes, when he’s on the ball, he can slow things down.”
Bennett believes Sunderland, whose home game with Fleetwood today was called off due to Covid-19 in the visitors’ camp, already have a potential lucky charm in playmaker Elliot
Embleton. The 22-year-old was in the Blackpool team that won promotion from League One last season while on loan.
“Elliot has great ability,” said Bennett. “The only thing he’s lacking is consistency. But if he can continue in the form he’s been in, it gives Sunderland a huge boost.
“All of a sudden, you have Elliot, Alex Pritchard and Dan Neil all playing well in midfield.”
Sunderland reached the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, losing 5-1 at Arsenal, where Nathan Broadhead hit his fifth goal in four games before injury struck.
Bennett added: “It’s terrible news about Broadhead. He brings something different to the team. He’s going to be a huge miss.”
Wearsiders defender Tom Flanagan said: “We were joking about being in the cup and looking at European football if we won at Wembley, because that’s where we’re at – we’re in a good place.
“We need a few players, but we’re only halfway through the season.
“There’s still a lot of football to
play.’’
earlier due to the coronavirus chaos.
Gray added: “We haven’t played for a couple of weeks and we had a few players who haven’t played for a while, so had Exeter.
“It was a strange game and a difficult day for both clubs really.
“It wasn’t pretty, but we’ve ground it out and found a way to win.”
Exeter gaffer Matt Taylor said: “It hurts because I didn’t think we deserved to lose.
“We certainly held our own in terms of the context of the game.
“It’s hard to be critical or judge the lads on that performance and I’m proud of the effort they gave.
“They were out on their feet, some players it was their first game for a month.”