What injury blow means for Cats and Phil’s options
In the early stages of the January transfer window, Phil Parkinson had a big decision to make.
Bristol City were suffering duetosomekeyinjuriesincentral defence, and it meant that adealforBaileyWrightwasdelayed with no guarantee of going through.
Parkinson had to decide whether to move onto other targets or hope for a breakthrough later in the month.
He opted for the latter and once the Australian broke into the Sunderland side, it was easy to see why. In five appearances, Wright demonstrated that in abundance. To lose him for eight to twelve weeks, casting doubt on whether he will play again this season, is a significant blow for Parkinson.
In Alim Ozturk, he has a deputywhohasprovedhimself onmultipleoccasionssincearriving on Wearside.
After a difficult start to his Cats caree r, when he himself admitted he was well short of fitness and form, Ozturk took the rare outings in the Checkatrade Trophy to rebuild his confidence.
ItwasnotuntilAprilthathe was given another chance, impressing in an emphatic home win over Doncaster Rovers.
His form in the latter stages of the season meant that many thoughtitharshwhenhecame out of the side, reclaiming his place weeks later and helping tosteadywhathadbeenadifficultstart.Parkinson,ofcourse, hasafewoptionsasheponders reshufflinghisdefence.Ozturk can consider himself unfortunate to have had to watch from the sidelines and will feel with some justification that it was not the first time he has been harshly dropped. This is the latest chance to prove himselfagain,andmakehisbiggest and most important contribution yet.