US young gun aiming to be a star in stripes

GOOCH FIRED UP AFTER HIS GOAL GLORY

SUNDERLAND may be about to lose one creative playmaker if Wahbi Khazri gets his way – but they have another desperate to stake his claim in the first team.

While Khazri is looking to move away from the Stadium of Light, Lynden Gooch is eager to get his Black Cats career up and running after suffering a frustrating time with injuries.

The 21-year-old USA international impressed in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup win at Carlisle, scoring the winner with his first goal for the club and providing a creative outlet for the Black Cats.

The youngster feels he can contribute more in the final third of the pitch after opening his account in a red-and-white shirt. “It was obviously a relief as a team to get through and for me to get my first goal,” said Gooch (right).

“I have been waiting for this for a long, long time.

“I have been at the club for 11 years now, so to get that goal was the best feeling ever.

“For it to be a matchwinner, the same as George’s (Honeyman) was at Bury, was even more special.

“Him and I have been through the ranks together for years so to be able to do that together in recent weeks is amazing. I don’t even know what to say. It is the best feeling I have ever had.” Simon Grayson has spent the summer rebuilding the Sunderland squad, with James Vaughan, Lewis Graban and Aiden McGeady all arriving in attacking positions. That means it is even more important to take your chance when you get it. Gooch added: “For me, I have not been playing much and getting much game-time, so the only way for me to break in is to do what I did on Tuesday.

“Hopefully, I can put that pressure on the manager to pick me.

“Growing up, I always played as a striker and I think the gaffer has seen that in me from day one of pre-season. I like to play as a No 9 or a No 10. I think that is where I was influential at Carlisle.

“I set up the goal and got on the scoresheet as well from a wide area.

“I can play anywhere across the front really.”

Gooch started the opening game at Manchester City in 2016 but then suffered more injury woe.

However, that is behind him now and he is looking forward to pushing for a place in Grayson’s side.

He said: “The injury last season was a big disappointment and I have had niggles since then.

“The main thing is to try and stay fit and healthy so I can keep playing and build myself back up.”