Glimpses of magic, but Pritchard still has work to do on fitness – Lee

Lee Johnson said Alex Pritchard showed his quality in Sunderland's Carabao Cup win over Port Vale, but warned that the attacking midfielder still has work to do to get up to full speed.

The 28-year-old made his full debut as the Black Cats booked their place in the next round, and registered his first assist with a through ball for Josh Hawkes in the first half.

"There were three or four glimpses of that magic in his feet," Johnson said.

"He's got that great vision. "Weknowexactlywherehe is and he's a long way behind the other lads, so I'm delighted that we were able to tick those minutes off and build him up.

"And I thought in a tricky tie, there were a lot of nice moments where we should that quality of got, and obviously we want hat as consistent as possible now.

"With Alex I think his centre of gravity and obviously his vision is, I think, top level.

"What we’ve got to do is we’vegottofeedhim.We’vegot to trust him with the ball and he can create those moments.

"You saw the one that he played over the top into Jack DiamondwhereIthoughtJack done well to out to in-run and then could have lobbed him.

"Even the one where the ref had just blown his whistle and he had a shot and hit the bar from long range. The vision to see the keeper off his line.

"Obviously, it’s a great goal for us in terms of working out from the back, playing all the waythrough.Anicelittleshimmie, sticks Hawkes through and a great finish."

Sunderland had to come through a stern late test to secure the win, with Johnson making eight changes and giving a number of young players an opportunity.

"That’s how were going to have to use this competition this year and it’s a good game," he said. "We come out a better clubhavingwonitbecauselads have got minutes, lads have got minutes in front of the crowd and we’ve managed to come away in the next round."

*Liverpool defender Tony Gallacher’s proposed transfer toSunderlandcollapseddueto a row over the size of the sellon clause, reports. The young left-back was set to conclude a move to Wearside before the Cats pulled out of the deal.

Sunderland had reached an agreement with the PremierLeagueclubtoreleasethe 22-year-old from his contract and pick Gallacher up on a free transfer. The Reds, though, would have been owed a hefty sell-on fee should the Wearside-based club sell the Scottish left-back down the line.