Veterans’ nous can aid young players in Cats’ side
JOEL Lynch and Laurens De Bock will bring extra balance to Sunderland’s squad, according to assistant manager James Fowler.
The pair are in line to make Black Cats debuts in tonight’s League Cup tie at Sheffield United, having joined as free agents on League One deadline day.
Neither has featured yet because they were lacking match-fitness after summers spent largely training alone.
Left-back De Bock, on a seasonlong loan from Leeds United, is set to take the place of Denver Hume, who was substituted at half-time in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Bolton Wanderers - the second time this season the 20-year-old has suffered that fate.
Centre-back Lynch is likely to partner Tom Flanagan with injuries expected to keep Jordan Willis and Alim Ozturk out of the starting lineup. Both could find themselves coming into a difficult situation with manager Jack Ross under pressure after away fans turned on him at Bolton - but their experience gives Fowler encouragement.
“Lynch is a good experienced player, he has played a lot of his career in the Championship,” said the assistant manager, whose appearance at the pre-match press conference was planned before the Bolton draw.
“He is a talker and an organiser as well and he is a good size.
“De Bock has played at a decent level as well in European football so it is one we are looking forward. He is more experienced than Denver and I am sure he will be good competition for him as well.
“They have good experience between them and they have played at a decent level and we are always looking to improve the squad.
“I think we felt we lacked experience at times last season and we are still looking for clean sheets, so you are always looking for different strengths of players who will add to the group we already have.
“Lynch is a left-footed centreback, so that hopefully helps us in that area of the pitch.”
Lynch, 31, had played for Brighton and Hove Albion, Nottingham Forest and Huddersfield Town before being released by Queens Park Rangers in the summer.
Although 26-yearold De Bock’s time at Elland Road was brief and disappointing, he has played Europa League football for Lokeren and Club Brugge and also at most junior levels for Belgium.
Having sold Reece James and released Bryan Oviedo and Adam Matthews, Sunderland have opted for youthful full-backs this season and, like Hume, 24-year-old Luke O’Nien is still learning to play his position - having first been used at right-back in December.
Former defender Fowler therefore thinks it is important they have experience around them.
He added: “Trying to find that balance and the right types to bring into the building is important and players who want to get better,.
“Although Conor (McLaughlin) and De Bock are slightly older than O’Nien and Hume, they are still wanting to get better as well, we see that every day on the training pitch.
“We have high hopes for Denver but he is still only young and the challenges of the game can be tough, as we saw on Saturday when he came up against quality players.
“Competition for Denver and someone he can hopefully learn from as well within training every day and games will make him a better player in the long run.”