ISAAC HAZE
New boy Lihadji set to start on bench... despite CL experience
SUNDERLAND v READING Championship: 3pm SUNDERLAND are set to hand a striker with Champions League experience his debut against Reading at the Stadium of Light.
But former Lille forward Isaac Lihadji will have to settle for a place on the bench despite the Black Cats’ top-scorer Ross Stewart being ruled out for the season.
Head coach Tony Mowbray is renowned for giving youth its chance – 12 of the 16 players on duty in the FA Cup tie against Fulham in midweek were eligible for the club’s Under-23 side.
But Mowbray is reluctant to throw in Lihadji too early, even though the 20-year-old has played in Europe’s premier competition and made 28 appearances for Lille. Lihadji joined Sunderland last month but work permit issues have delayed his involvement until now.
“I’m very conscious that although he’s played at the highest level and does look very exciting, he’s still a young boy and it takes time,” said Mowbray.
“Isaac doesn’t communicate much, other than with the young French kids we already have in the squad. He understands his name but I need a bit of help translating.
“With the language barrier, it’s difficult to plan and prepare for a game with Isaac in the starting XI.
“So, in the short-term, he might be someone we bring on from the bench to see if he can impact the game with the qualities he’s got.” Sunderland, who can move into the play-off places with victory this afternoon, had hoped to have full-back Dennis Cirkin available. The former Tottenham defender suffered concussion when scoring the equaliser at Millwall last week and is still completing the protocols. “It has taken him a day or two longer than we expected but he will be back for our next game in midweek,” added Mowbray. Royals boss Paul Ince fears his side are too reliant on son Thomas. Winger Ince, 31, is the club’s top scorer with seven league goals this season and leads the team running stats.
Dad Paul (with son, left) reckons the wideman is reaping the benefits of being given more freedom on the flank. And he insists it is up to the rest of his players to share the responsibility for providing the side’s cutting edge.
The Reading manager said: “Thomas is a kid who has to express himself. You have to allow him to play his own game.
“It’s not about the goals or assists, it’s the continuation of the work rate.
“It shouldn’t be hard to ask players to work hard, it should be a natural requirement. To do the work that he does takes some doing.
“He’s also a spoilt little git and there won’t be a game that goes past where you don’t see him hollering and shouting, but he backs it up with the way he plays!
“He only shouts because he wants to win. He needs help. Sometimes we have a reliance on him. We need other players to step up and say no, let me be the one.
“I’ve spoken to one or two about sharing the load. He’s running like 15 percent of the team.”