Black Cats ‘stretched’ but are up for the cup
JACK Ross admits Sunderland’s squad is ‘pretty stretched’ as the Black Cats go into tonight’s Checkatrade Trophy game against Carlisle with only 11 first-teamers available.
Ross says 14 players will miss out on tomorrow’s game at the Stadium of Light, with seven ruled out through injury, four away on international duty, two suspended and one rested.
Josh Maja will miss out with a slight ankle problem he has been carrying, while Jerome Sinclair has a minor hamstring niggle, and they join Duncan Watmore, Charlie Wyke, Glenn Loovens, Lynden Gooch, and Donald Love on the injury list.
Bryan Oviedo, Tom Flanagan, Jon McLaughlin and Bali Mumba are on international duty.
Max Power and Denver Hume cannot play due to suspension, while Lee Cattermole is being given a break.
“Ordinarily you would look to freshen up the group,” said Ross.
“We did that against Stoke U21s [in the previous game in this competition] while keeping a relatively strong core of the team.
“But we have 14 first-team players unavailable, which leaves us with 11 – including the goalkeeper – firstteamers. That’s it.
“They will be supplemented by U23 players, and you also have to consider that our more experienced U23 players such as Luke Molyneux and Elliot Embleton are out on loan. We’re pretty stretched, but we’ve still got enough players to put a good team out on the pitch.”
It leaves Ross with a first-team pool of Robbin Ruiter, Adam Matthews, Alim Ozturk, Jack Baldwin, Reece James, Chris Maguire, Dylan McGeouch, George Honeyman, Luke O’Nien, Aiden McGeady, and Ethan Robson.
The remainder of the squad will be made up of U23 players with Benji Kimpioka certain to be involved, while the likes of Brandon Taylor, Jack Diamond, Jake Hackett, and Brandon Taylor could come into contention.
Kimpioka has been called up by Sweden U18s but does not travel until tomorrow.
Ross said: “Benji is going away with Sweden, but he is with us for the game which is good because we would be short otherwise!
“I think he flies out on Wednesday, but he is definitely with us (for the Carlisle match).”
Of the other players, Ross said: “There are some that need games.
“With not having a game this Saturday, I can push one or two players because there is no game for 10 days afterwards.
“Guys like Reece James, Aiden McGeady, Adam Matthews to an extent, and others who haven’t played that regularly this season could do with the minutes.
“It won’t do them any harm, and they know they have a break afterwards which helps.
“Luke’s back and trained today but he has obviously been unwell for the best part of last week.
“He’ll be part of the squad though.”