‘WE’VE GOT WHAT IT TAKES FOR PROMOTION’

It has, by Phil Parkinson’s own admission, been a whirlwind start to life in charge of Sunderland. Crunch league games have come thick and fast and he has been forced to quickly settle on a core group of players and structure to try and secure a quick uplift in results.

He now gets a welcome chance to rotate, however, with the Black Cats playing four of their next five games in cup competitions.

As Steve Parkin admitted on Monday, it is a perfect opportunity to take a look at the players who have so far had limited action in their tenure.

“We need to get a picture of as many of the players as we can in the next few cup games without making ridiculous changes, there's players that we do really want to see and I'm sure Phil will be conscious of that,” he said.

So who is likely to come into the fold and what do they have to do to press their claims?

JON McLAUGHLIN

It was one of Phil Parkinson’s earliest and biggest calls to drop one of the few players he had worked with in his managerial career.

Even if McLaughlin had not reached the heights of last season, it still felt a shock to see his name on the bench in a league fixture.

Lee Burge had earned a chance through his cup performances and so it was no surprise to see him acquit himself well against both Wycombe Wanderers and Tranmere Rovers.

McLaughlin, though, has been handed a very early chance to reclaim his place with Burge suffering a hip injury.

It’s a big opportunity for McLaughlin to reestablish himself as he is so clearly capable of doing.

Here, Parkinson could without doubt be boosted by the club’s hierarchy sorting out a contract impasse that has already dragged on too long.

Regardless of current form, the goalkeeper is one of the club’s biggest assets and that needs protecting.

CONOR McLAUGHLIN & TOM FLANAGAN

McLaughlin began to settle in his strongest position before Jack Ross’ departure but after defeat in Parkinson’s first game, Luke O’Nien returned to right-back.

He has offered his typical attacking threat since then but with his energy occasionally needed further forward, there will be a chance for both of these defenders to stake their claim.

Flanagan in particular has used the cup games so far to press his case well.

ALIM OZTURK

Ozturk lost his place in the latter days of Ross’ tenure, with Joel Lynch making an immediate impression as he got up to match fitness.

It was no surprise to see Parkinson look to continue what has been a promising partnership with Jordan Willis.

Ozturk, though, has looked to be out of the picture on more than one occasion in his Sunderland career.

He has always bounced back and with the side still giving away soft goals under the new manager, there is an opportunity to put himself firmly back in contention.

LAURENS DE BOCK

Currently sidelined with an injury, but is back running and so a return is not too far away.

He will have to do well to dislodge Denver Hume, who has made a strong early impression on the new management team.

Hume remains a youngster with much to improve both in defence and in his final ball, but his physical stats have impressed Parkinson and Parkin, and he has given his side a constant outlet.

Crucially, he looks to be finding some consistency as he enjoys a run of games.

DYLAN McGEOUCH

Left out of the squad in Parkinson’s first league game and an unused substitute since then.

Initially, the new manager played with a holding midfielder in Grant Leadbitter but in the search for more firepower, that has quickly been dropped.

Parkinson has gone with an aggressive midfield pairing of Max Power and George Dobson, who have both been given plenty of licence to get forward.

It leaves McGeouch with an uncertain future, and with much to prove when his chance does come.

He has thrived in this kind of role before, most notably last season, with some superb performances in a 4-4-2 after the Checkatrade Trophy final.

He will need to do so again to dislodge one of the current pairing.

MARC McNULTY

Arguably the most impressive striker in the opening weeks of the season, McNulty has been short of action since Parkinson arrived.

The Sunderland boss initially went with Charlie Wyke to lead the line and after he picked up an ankle injury, Parkinson threw his weight behind Will Grigg.

He has had a response from the Northern Irishman, particularly in the 5-0 win over Tranmere that saw Grigg lead the line superbly and land his first league goal of the season.

McNulty, though, has plenty to offer, an unselfish striker with real quality on the ball.

He could do with more minutes to find that rhythm again and these cup games should be the perfect opportunity.

BENJI KIMPIOKA

Kimpioka’s Sunderland career looked to be drifting towards an unsatisfactory conclusion when Ross promoted Lee Connelly ahead of him into the senior set-up.

Comments from Kimpioka’s agent regarding his situation at the club had gone down badly and it was tough to see a route back for the youngster.

A change in the dug-out, alongside some suspension and injury issues, has given him an unexpected chance.

Parkinson thinks Kimpioka can offer ‘something different’ and gave him some real responsibility at Shrewsbury, throwing him on in place of Grigg as he searched for a late equaliser.

It’s a chance to impress the youngster simply has to take if he is to have a future in the sen