Ozturk aiming to help lift the Cats
CENTRAL DEFENDER RELIEVED TO BE BACK IN ACTION
ALIM Ozturk is hoping his recent injury frustration is behind him, so he can help Sunderland climb out of the slump they find themselves in.
Sunderland have not won in their last four – with dismal cup performances against Leicester City under-21s, Scunthorpe and Gillingham souring the mood among supporters right now.
In the absence of league action for three weeks, they’ve fallen to ninth in the League One table.
But they have an opportunity to get things back on track in the next seven days, with consecutive home league games against Coventry City and Burton Albion coming in quick succession.
Ozturk, who made a promising return to action on Tuesday in the FA Cup first round replay at Gillingham, is hopeful his injury troubles are behind him after completing 90 minutes and restricting the hosts to no shots on target during his time on the pitch.
The Turkish centre-back said: “I didn’t speak with the manager about that [how long he would play on Tuesday]. But I knew he needed me. So I trained a few days. If I have to I will play; I want to play always.
“I could only play for 90 minutes – that was that was the max for me. My body was really stiff and that’s why I got subbed.
“I had trained like a few days with the team and felt good so I had to play, and I did for the team. It was alright until the last 17 minutes when everything was getting a bit stiff so I was struggling a little bit at the end. I wanted to play through [into extra-time] but the 90 was the maximum for me. I couldn’t do more. The pitch was not helping as well. It was slippery everywhere and the way the game went was not what I needed. But you have to play to the game, and it’s a part of it, and I had to do it. I needed to do it, with all these injuries and stuff, so there’s no problem for me.”
Of his injury, which restricted him to just 30 minutes under Parkinson until Tuesday, he continued: “I was struggling with my hamstring for a while and didn’t expect it to be honest.
“Every time when I came back, I felt it again, so it was strange. But it was all right last week so I trained a big part with the group.
“Of course you want to you want to be fit, especially when the new manager comes in and I hope I can stay fit for a long time now.”
The one positive for Sunderland fans to cling to is that the recent four games – all dismal performances, have come in cup competitions. They won their last league game 1-0 against Southend.
It’s scant consolation to supporters, fed up with the poor football seen in the cup games, and worrying that form will seep into their league form – already below the standard required if they’re to achieve their goal of promotion.
But Ozturk is trying to remain positive, and says two good results this week will completely change the outlook.
“We have two home games, and two really important ones,” he said. “It’s a quick turnaround and a chance to put things right. We have enough experience in the team – in the group.
“So I think we will be ready for the next two games.
“Hopefully we can get good results there, and put ourselves in a good position.”
Regular centre-back pairing Jordan Willis and Joel Lynch both missed the midweek trip to Gillingham, but are hopeful of being fit for Saturday, but Ozturk made a strong case to start against Coventry.