Grigg Will score
STRIKER IS SHRUGGING OFF CRITICS
WILL Grigg is not letting his goal drought and the criticism that his come his way get him down, according to Sunderland assistant manager James Fowler.
Grigg has an excellent goalscoring record in League One with previous clubs such as Walsall, MK Dons and Wigan Athletic, but has hit the buffers since his January move to Wearside.
He last scored a league goal in April, and has netted a total of just four goals in 27 league games for the Black Cats.
His only goal this term came in Sunderland’s 3-1 Carabao Cup win at Burnley last month.
Given that Sunderland shelled out more than £3m for Grigg, his goal return has fallen far short of expectations and he has been given a rough ride by the fans – most recently in the draw at Bolton at the weekend, when he missed a free header from four yards out.
But Fowler says Grigg has not buckled under the pressure, and he remains convinced the tide will turn for the Northern Ireland international.
“For all that’s happened, this is probably the best I’ve seen him, to be honest,” said Fowler of Grigg’s demeanor around the training ground.
“You never know what’s going on behind the scenes but I know his family have moved to the area and that definitely helps.
“He is bubbly around the place and it’s just a case of him getting that goal – like any striker it just needs one, whether it comes off his backside or however it goes in. But we got that front three – Charlie Wyke, Grigg, and Marc McNulty – and whichever of them is getting goals will take the pressure off the others.”
The hamstring problem that saw McNulty miss the Bolton game will also rule him out of tomorrow’s Carabao Cup third round tie at Premier League Sheffield United.
And manager Jack Ross will have to decide whether to stick with Grigg at Bramall Lane in the hope that another cup goal might be the catalyst for his league form, or bring in Wyke.
Fowler said: “We’ll pick a team for Wednesday to go out and win the game, whoever that may be – whether it’s Wyke or Grigg up top – but we will obviously have an eye out for Saturday’s league game against MK Dons as well, because McNulty will miss out on Wednesday and whether he will be back for Saturday I’m not sure.
“It’s just a case of players who are given the chance by the manager going out and taking that chance.”