Struggling players need some time apart, says Coleman

CHRIS Coleman has granted his players a few days off before attempting to lift the defeatism hanging over the Stadium of Light.

As soon as the Black Cats went behind to Sean Maguire’s 50th-minute header on Saturday there was an air of resignation on and off the pitch.

Coleman has given his players a rest from it at the start of the two-week international break. He said: “At this stage they have played so many games another one is the last thing they need.

“They cannot be away for too long because then they lose a bit of fitness but I think they need a bit of time away from each other. We all need that probably.

“That is not us going away as a club together, it is probably just a bit of time at home with their families before we start preparing for Derby (County, who they face on Good Friday).

“They will be back in the midweek for a few days.

“The weekend is quiet and then we will prepare again because we play on the Friday.”

Bryan Oviedo will be away with Costa Rica while Adam Matthews was a late Welsh call-up for the China Cup.

Joel Asoro is in Sweden’s under-21 squad and the on-loan Ovie Ejaria and Jake Clarke Salter – sent off on his return from suspension against Preston – will be with their English counterparts.

Coleman added: “As soon as we conceded the first goal everyone got sucked down again and there was a feeling this is never going to turn around.”