Fit-again Wyke eager to help promotion push
ACE READY TO STRIKE FEAR INTO DEFENCES
Sunderland writer CHARLIE Wyke says he is ‘fit and fresh’ after returning from a lengthy injury lay-off as Sunderland enter the ‘business end’ of the season.
Wyke struggled with knee injuries after joining from Bradford City in the summer and, despite scoring on his debut in September, he managed only a handful of games in the first half of the campaign.
But the striker returned against his former club on Boxing Day and after a couple of substitute appearances, he has started the Black Cats’ last three games and scored his first goal since his return in the 4-0 Checkatrade Trophy win over Newcastle United U21s.
With third-placed Sunderland looking to step up their promotion campaign, the fact that Wyke has played relatively little football could work to the Black Cats’ advantage.
“It’s been hard not playing, but hopefully it means I’ll be fit and fresh in the second half of the season when other players who have played a lot more are starting to get a bit tired,” said Wyke, who is set to line up against second-placed Luton Town on Wearside this weekend.
“It’s a hard league and there’s a lot of games, especially with the cup games.
“I’ve obviously missed a lot of games in the first half of the season, but I’m over that now and hopefully now I can keep getting fitter the more games I play.
“Hopefully, I’ll be a lot fitter and feel a lot better than the players I’m playing against.
“This is the business end of the season now, and this is the best time to play football and hit form.
“We’ve got big games coming up against teams that are in and around us, and hopefully we can keep winning games and picking up points.”
Wyke was injured when he signed in August and only managed four games after returning before suffering a new injury at Burton Albion.
But manager Jack Ross has been careful to give him extra time to recuperate and Wyke says he feels better prepared this time around.
Wyke said: “I definitely feel stronger this time around, but I think there’s still a lot more to come.
“I’m a lot more ready now. I think I did rush things back a bit the first time. It was frustrating joining the club being injured, and I was desperate to try to get myself back.
“Now, I feel back to normal and hopefully I can kick on from here.
“I keep saying the more games I play, the better I feel, and hopefully I’ll start getting on the end of crosses and taking the chances that come my way.
“I’m not one of those that can be in and out of the team really, I like playing every week.
“I’m obviously a big lad and I do get tired quite quickly, so hopefully I can keep fit and keep playing.”
Wyke scored Sunderland’s second goal in the win against the Magpies, shortly after an own-goal from Kelland Watts handed the Black Cats the lead, with Chris Maguire and Benji Kimpioka completing the rout.
He said: “We had to come with a professional attitude and get the job done, and that’s what we did in the end. Thankfully, we got a few goals, played well, and everything’s good. “They came out and passed the ball about, and we tried to get about them. We weren’t really at our best in the first half, but in the second half we really took the game to them. “I want to play every game and score in every game I play, so it’s nice to get out there and score a goal.”
He added: “I obviously missed a few chances against Charlton [last weekeend], and you don’t want it playing in your head for too long. “I’ve had a chance now to get out there, and thankfully I got a goal.” Charlie Wyke
This is the business end of the season now, and this is the best time to play football and hit form