Free weekend gives Wearmen chance to recharge batteries

JACK Ross will give his Sunderland players a breather at the end of the week to make the most of the Black Cats’ free weekend.

Sunderland’s game at Blackpool on Saturday has been postponed due to international call-ups and Ross (right) is delighted his side goes into the break on a high on the back of a League One win at Bradford City at the weekend and a 3-1 Checkatrade Trophy win over Carlisle United.

Ross said: “We will do some recovery work and have some time off at the end of the week and over the weekend and then come back on Monday.

“It is a good time for us to have a breather because you don’t often get that in this league.

“We will take advantage of that.

“I wanted us to finish this little part of the season on a high and I am pleased we have done that.

“It means they go away positive and upbeat.

“I think they will come back with renewed energy again.”

Benji Kimpioka scored just three minutes into his first senior start to set Sunderland on the way to victory over Carlisle, Ethan Robson adding the second just before half time and George Honeyman the third shortly after the hour. Carlisle’s Ashley Nadesan had levelled at 1-1 midway through the first half. Ross added “It was a good night because these games can be difficult sometimes but there were more good things tonight than bad.

“The second half was good, the first half was a wee bit flat.

“It was a good night for us, we wanted to win the game and we want to progress in this tournament.

“When you come into the season you know these fixtures are here and it is a group format so it adds to the congestion.

“Yet there is a big prize at the end of it, it is silverware, a game at the national stadium, so I don’t think you can ignore that.”