Johnson explains Jones dilemma after Cats’ game-changing cameos

Lee Johnson praised Jordan Jones and Chris Maguire for 'proving a point' with their stunning goals at Crewe Alexandra.

Sunderland were drifting at 2-0 down when the Head Coach made four substitutions just before the hour mark.

That quickly became five as Grant Leadbitter suffered a dislocated shoulder, an injury that leaves him facing a spell on the sidelines.

Jones got his side back into the game with a breathtaking strike that halved the deficit, while Maguire went on to produce a string of superb free-kicks that should have yielded one assist at the very least.

The attacking midfielder got his reward with an outstanding volley that rescued a point for an otherwise lacklustre Black Cats side.

Both have given Johnson a big dilemma ahead of the game against Swindon Town on Tuesday night.

"There was a couple who had a point to prove and they did that," Johnson said.

"Both goals were struck with real venom.

"Jordan showed great attitude, coming in off the left and bursting past a couple. I'm looking forward to watching it back because it looked like an absolute worldie.

"That will do his confidence the world of good.

"He's been good for us, but [Aiden] McGeady has also been good, but it's not always easy to match them up and get both of them on the pitch.

"I'm really pleased with him and he'll be delighted with that."

Maguire has only started one league game since

Johnson's arrival but has been a regular off the bench in recent games and has impressed with his application.

Sunderland's Head Coach said the 32-year-old has shown that he 'absolutely' has a part to play between now and the end of the season.

"He absolutely has a part to play, and that [cameo] is why he's there," Johnson said.

"We've been open and honest with Chrissy right from day one and he's been the same with us.

"We want all of our players to do well and it's a great goal, a great moment for him.

"It's one that he fully deserves."

Johnson seems likely to make changes for Tuesday's game after admitting that he could perhaps have freshened things up further for this draw.

Sunderland are keen to tie Luke O’Nien down to a new long-term contract, according to reports.

The Sunday Mirror claim the Black Cats are looking to commit O’Nien to a new deal with his current contract due to expire this summer.

O’Nien has starred since Lee Johnson took charge, with the head coach praising his versatility with the ex-Wycombe Wanderers man able to play in midfield, central defence and full-back.

Speaking last month, Johnson said: “I really like Luke, he's the busiest man in living history, which I love, and he's got an infectious personality as well.

"He's a great character. I asked him to tell me the three positions he felt he could have the highest ceiling in, i.e to go and play in the Premier League.

"He didn't have a clue. It was eight, ten, two, maybe left-sided centre half and maybe he thinks he can do a job at left back.

"We have to get to grips with what his best position is, for this football club and for my game style.

"He's such a good lad who does so much extra work, and it allows us to plan properly for that extra work. If you give him a task he's like a dog with a bone, and he won't come back until he's the best at it. That's his mentality.”

Meanwhile, Crewe boss David Artell said his side were 'good value for a win' on Saturdayafternoon,andsaidhisside should have been awarded at least one first-half penalty.

Crewe had the better of the contest, particularly in a wretched first hour for Sunderland, but two stunning strikes from substitutes Jordan

Jones and Chris Maguire rescued a point for the visitors. Artell said Charlie Kirk should have been awarded a penalty in the first half, but said the midfielder's decision not to go to ground cost him.

"I thought we should have had a penalty in the first half," Artell said.

"Charlie [Kirk] has then nicked it over the goalkeeper and got clipped, but has stayed on his feet because he's young and naive.

"Their bench agreed with that. I'm not condoning diving but that's what experienced pros do.

"We had great chances to score more goals but weren't able to. It's all about the result that goes in the book.

"I thought we were good value for the three points but it wasn't to be, they've scored to worldies and that's what it's taken to get a draw.

Sunderland legend Micky Gray says he believes Kyril Louis-Dreyfus is in it ‘for the long haul’ at the Stadium of Light – having briefly met the new club chairman.

Gray, who himself was looking to assemble a consortium to purchase the club from Stewart Donald last summer, was introduced to the 23-year-old prior to the Black Cats’ win over Fleetwood Town.

And while the conversation between the pair was only brief, the former fullback was left enthused by his encounter with the new majority shareholder – particularly given he had clearly done his homework on the history of the club.

Indeed, their dialogue led Gray to conclude that Louis-Dreyfus will be sticking around on Wearside for the long-term.

But the 46-year-old has urged patience among supporters in the coming months and years.

Speaking about the takeover to Betfred’s Football Show, Gray said: "It's good times.

“He's a very wealthy young man and he has a good head on his shoulders.

“I had a five minute conversation with him and he was kind of telling me what he wanted from the football club.

"He knew the history of the club, which I was really impressed about, he knew when we'd moved from Roker Park to the Stadium of Light.

“He was an impressive young man.

“He's paying for a half a million pound pitch, they're just starting to look after the academy.

"Since the takeover they've brought in three or four fresh faces to bring in the talent that we have in the North East, and actually keep them in the North East.

“Over the last ten years we've been losing all the young talent that we've got, and that's what the club has been built on - giving young players an opportunity to break through into the first team.

“I think that's important to him.

“Sunderland fans have got to be patient.

"It's not going to be jump out of League One, into the Championship and straight into the Premier League.

"It's going to take at least five to ten years.

“But this guy sounded like he wanted to be there for the long haul, and let's hope it's a successful one.”

Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal are finally moving in the right direction after an impressive 3-1 comeback win at Leicester.

David Luiz and Nicolas Pepe scored either side of Alex andre Lacazette’s penalty at the King Power Stadium.

Youri Tielemans opened the scoring for the Foxes but their top-four hopes were den ted, with Harvey Barnes now set to be out for at least six weeks with a knee injury after being carried off during a miserable afternoon.

It was also Arsenal’s first win at a side in the top three of the Premier League since 2015 as the Gunners backed up Thursday’s last-32 Europa League victory over Benfica.

“The team is clearly improving, it’s taking a direction I like. It’s about consistency,” said Arteta, who was able to rest Bukayo Saka and keep Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on the bench until the final six minutes.

“We are still giving things to the opposition – we did it against Benfica and we did it today. It’s something we have to eradicate to give ourselves the best possible chance.

“It’s about how we played against top quality opposition. We have to impose ourselves, it doesn’t matter who we play against, we have to have courage. I’m proud about winning but obviously the way we’ve done it.

“The way we are playing looks much closer to what we want. The way the team is evolving, we have some consistency in recent months.”

Tielemans gave the Foxes the perfect start when he drilled in his ninth goal of the season after Arsenal allowed him a free run into the box after seven minutes.

It was as good as it got for the hosts, though, as Arsenal took charge and thought they had a penalty after 12 minutes when Pepe went down under Tielemans’ challenge.

AV AR review over ruled the call and awarded a free-kick instead after Wilfred Ndidi had clipped the winger outside the box first. But the Gunners deservedly levelled six minutes before the break when Luiz crashed in a header from Willian’s free-kick.

Then, in first-half stoppage time, Lacazette made it 2-1 from the spot when Ndidi clearly handled Pepe’s shot in thebox–althoughrefereePaul Tierney still needed to refer to his monitor.

Barnes was carried off five minutes into the second half and two minutes later Pepe added a third, tapping in Willian’s cross after a quick break. Jonny Evans also came off with a calf injury.