The case for the defence: assessing the Black Cats’ backline options
Lee Johnson is mulling over his defensive options as Sunderland sweat on some fresh injury concerns – but what exactly are those options?
The Black Cats will assess Dion Sanderson’s back issue aheadoftherun-in,whilethere are also concerns over Conor McLaughlinafterhewithdrew from the squad to face Wigan Athletic on Tuesday.
Tom Flanagan is moving towards a return, but Jordan
Willis and Arbenit Xhemajli are longer-term absentees – leaving Sunderland’s options depleted.
So what options are there for Johnson? We take a look...
Can Sunderland sign a free agent defender?
Sunderlandwillnotbeable to sign a new defender, given the EFL registration deadline has already passed.
While some leagues – most notably the National League
– have extended their player registration deadlines into April, the EFL have not offered such an extension to clubs.
This means that no clubs can add to their squads after this point, other than on an emergency loan basis.
So can Sunderland sign a defender on an emergency loan basis?
Many have pointed to the fact that Peterborough United were allowed to sign an emergency loan goalkeeper last week, after injury to regular number one Christy Pym.
But if Sunderland’s defensive options are indeed depleted for the final weeks of the campaign, this is not an area they will be able to explore.
That’s because EFL rules onlyallowgoalkeeperstomove on an emergency loan basis, rather than outfield players.
So if numbers are down, thenJohnsonmayneedtolook at his internal options…
Whatoptionsarecurrently on Sunderland’s books?
ThegoodnewsisthatBailey Wrighthasnowreturnedtothe fold, meaning that – in a worstcase scenario – Sunderland will have at least one natural centre-back available. Flanagan, too, is moving closer to a return while Luke O’Nien has largely impressed when asked to play as a central defender.
It would be of little surprise to see Oliver Younger come back into the first-team fold, while Brandon Taylor may also be waiting in reserve should he be required. What the injury concerns also mean is that Sunderland are likely to have to stick with a back four for the timebeing.Whilethesidehave enjoyed some success in a 3-43, it’s hard to see how Johnson will be able to play that shape with his central defensive options so limited.