Asoro carrying an injury – that’s why he came off
SUNDERLAND MANAGER CHRIS COLEMAN EXPLAINS HIS THINKING ON SACRIFICE OF LIVELY STRIKER JOEL
Sunderland boss Chris Coleman says Joel Asoro is still battling through injury after substituting him early in the second half at QPR on Saturday.
Coleman was forced to sacrifice a forward player after keeper Jason Steele was sent off early in the second half . He opted for Asoro rather than Ashley Fletcher, who continues to struggle up front.
The Middlesbrough loanee is yet to score for the Black Cats since arriving on deadline day.
That decision to take off Asoro drew fury from the travelling support, but Coleman says he did not want to be forced into using all his substitutions.
Aiden McGeady had already replaced the injured Jonny Williams in the first half.
There were ironic cheers in the closing minutes when Fletcher was replaced by Josh Maja.
Coleman said: “Joel only had an hour [in him]. He took a right good whack against Middlesbrough, didn’t train for the week after.
“He could only have an hour [at QPR]. I didn’t want to change Ash and then have to change again soon after. It was the safer bet – that was it.”
Coleman admits he fears he could again be without Williams for a period of time after the Welsh international limped off following a collision.
He will now join midfielders Darron Gibson and Paddy McNair on the sidelines as Coleman struggles to find solution’s to the club’s poor form.
The Wales cap is on loan from Crystal Palace but has struggled to string together a run of games.
Coleman said: “Jonny is a super player. He keeps on playing catch-up – another game that we’ve lost a man in the first half.
“He was important, too, the way we wanted to setup, a vital cog.
“He could be out for another week or two, so there’s another couple without him.
“I think he had a kick on the quad and it has impacted his hamstring, but I won’t know exactly until next time I come in.”