Formation change may get McManaman back in

Callum McManaman is fit to face Brentford on Saturday, with Sunderland boss Chris Coleman considering a change of formation.

McManaman (pictured) has been missing for three weeks with a leg injury, but he has taken a full part in training this week.

Coleman could also call on Lamine Kone, Jonny Williams and Paddy McNair, who all featured in Sunday’s U23s game at Exeter City.

The Sunderland boss told safc.com: “Callum McManaman has trained and looked good, looked bright.

“Lamine Kone also trained, about 75%, so we’ll see how the rest of the week goes.

“Obviously we’ve got the boys coming back from injury, Jonny Williams and Paddy McNair, who had a game last Sunday and we wanted Goochy (Lynden Gooch) to play as well.” McManaman could benefit from a possible change of formation for the Black Cats. Coleman has largely played without natural wingers since arriving on Wearside in November, but he admits that the second-half performance at Bristol City last weekend has left him with a dilemma.

The Sunderland boss believes that Aiden McGeady is ‘undroppable’ if he plays like he did in the stirring comeback to draw 3-3, while the improving fitness of Kazenga LuaLua also gives another attacking option.

Coleman said: “Aiden looked good on Saturday – he was bright and sharp – he made some good passes and scored a good goal.

“When he’s in that type form, you can’t not pick him, so I was really pleased with him, as I was with Kaz who is getting fitter. If you’re Brentford, you’ll be looking at us and you can see we’ve played predominantly with three at the back, sometimes in a 4-3-3.

“I’ve said before that, in future, if we win I might then change it, because we’ve had that failure to get back-to-back wins all season.

“So you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to look at it and say we might not play three at the back on Saturday. Maybe we will, maybe we won’t.”