Boss hails attitude of dropped striker as Mag-nificent

CHRIS REACTS IN THE RIGHT WAY TO LOSING HIS PLACE IN THE TEAM

CHRIS Maguire has responded in the right way after being dropped against AFC Wimbledon last weekend - even though he was eventually handed a late reprieve and a place on the bench.

An out-of-sorts Maguire had been substituted early in the second half of Sunderland’s League One draw against Scunthorpe United last month.

While he went on to start the Checkatrade Trophy win over Manchester City Under-21s, when the Black Cats returned to league action against the Dons there was initially no place for him in the 18-man matchday squad.

The return of skipper George Honeyman, plus the inclusion of January signing Grant Leadbitter, squeezed Maguire out of the starting line-up while boss Jack Ross included deadlineday signings Lewis Morgan and Kazaiah Sterling on the bench ahead of him.

However, when Lynden Gooch (pictured) pulled out of the game to be with his partner as she gave birth, Morgan was promoted to the starting XI and Maguire took his place among the substitutes. With five new faces joining in January, and with several injured players returning, Ross has a strong squad to pick from and that means players must be on their toes - although he says it is also crucial those who are left out respond in the right way. Ross said: “There is competition for places now and you have to be at it every day and also in games. “The brutal reality is sometimes players will be left out and then it is about how they respond to it.

“They can go off in a huff or they can set out to prove me wrong and I have never had any problem with a player who proves me wrong.

“Chris has trained well this week so he has reacted in the right way.”

Ross’ squad will come into its own over the next fortnight with today’s trip to Oxford United marking the start of a five-game run spread over only 15 days.

That run continues with three home games in a row, Blackpool the visitors on Tuesday followed by Accrington Stanley on Friday and Gillingham a week on Tuesday before the Black Cats visit Bristol Rovers two weeks today.

Ross added: “We have had periods like this over the course of the season. The good thing is we have had a little bit of a lull before it this time.

“I would imagine we will need to utilise the squad over this period.

“At least it will be nice to go into this period with a near-clean bull of health.”