BRILLIANT SPIRIT CAN KEEP US UP – WATMORE
REHAB WORK GOING WELL FOR SUNDERLAND’S ENGLAND UNDER-21 FORWARD DUNCAN
Duncan Watmore insists that Sunderland’s strong team spirit can be the key to the fight for Premier League survival.
The Black Cats are on a break from the pressures of climbing off the bottom of the table, with Watmore joining the squad for their bonding trip to New York despite being ruled out for the rest of the season.
“The spirit is really good here, we all get on with each other,” said Watmore.
“When you are injured, you do miss out on things; you are in at different times, doing different things so it is good to see the lads at lunch and keep up with things, there is a strong team spirit.
“Experience is key, we have a lot of players here who have done it before. We are obviously not in the position we want to be but if we keep fighting there is no reason why we can’t stay up.”
Watmore’s long road back to fitness is a frustrating one for the livewire forward – but he says his rehab is going well.
Watmore’s season was brought to a premature end when he suffered cruciate knee ligament damage in the 2-1 win over Leicester City in early December.
The devastating injury – the England Under-21 international was carried off following a challenge by Leicester defender Christian Fuchs – ruled Watmore out for the rest of the campaign, joining Paddy McNair on the long-term injury list.
Watmore’s form had seen an upturn in the weeks leading up to the win over the Foxes, with manager David Moyes describing him as “terrific” alongside Victor Anichebe and Jermain Defoe.
But scan results confirmed the club’s worst fears, with Watmore now working hard every day at the Academy of Light to come back stronger.
“It is frustrating when you are out for this amount of time, but, in terms of the rehab, it is going well,” reflected Watmore.
“It is about getting the full extension, full range, doing all the squats and building it up so the knee can tolerate it.
“The treatment we get here at Sunderland is fantastic. I am working hard and I am in good hands.
“Day-to-day, you do a lot of treatment with the knee then a lot in the gym in terms of building your core, obviously your legs and building them up so your knees can tolerate the squats.
“A lot of swimming and bike work, build that up until you are in a position where you can do some running.”
Sunderland return to action at Everton next Saturday.
“It is frustrating when you are out for this amount of time” DUNCAN WATMORE