Embleton set to represent Black Cats in play-off final
Sunderland will once again play their football in League One again next season.
Lee Johnson’s men failed to overcome Lincoln City over two legs in the play-off semifinal and now face a fourth straight season in the third tier of English football.
But what gossip is there from around the internet following the clash against the Imps?
Prior to Sunderland’s loss, Black Cats’ youngster Elliot Embleton netted a stunning strike in the second leg of Blackpool’s play-off semi against Oxford United.
Embleton has caught the eye since joining the Seasiders on loan during the winter transfer window and will return to the Stadium of Light in the summer – having seen his contract extended until the summer of 2022.
But in the short-term, the 22-year-old could help Blackpool to promotion to the Championship.
Having beaten Oxford 3-0 in the first leg of their play-off semi-final clash, Neil Critchley’s side were in pole position ahead of the return fixture at Bloomfield Road on Friday night.
Indeed, Embleton will be available for selection for the showcase final at Wembley Stadium later this month.
If Sunderland had progressed, the Englishman would have had to sit the tie out, with the rules preventing him from playing against his parent club.
“It is a fantastic effort because the players have been through so much this season,” Critchley said after Friday’s match.
“We have changed pretty much the whole squad and it took us time to develop that understanding of how we want to play.”