How City loanee Callum could be key to the Cats’ promotion hopes
If there was one downside to Sunderland's emphatic win over Cambridge United, it was the sight of Carl Winchester limping off inside the opening ten minutes.
Sunderland do not yet know the full extent of the groin injury, but Alex Neil noted afterwards that Winchester is a player who would grin and bear anything not too serious.
The Northern Irishman's dejection as he left the pitch seemed to tell its own story.
Neil has spoken of 'pillars' in his team, players whose consistency created the stability that in turn saw results improve significantly.
Winchester is one; Dennis Cirkin another.
Both have played in unfamiliar roles that have helped
Neil solve the team's defensive issues, offering both pace and poise on the ball either side of Bailey Wright.
It made Sunderland less vulnerable to the counterattack, and ensured they can still get enough players into the final third to hurt the opposition.
In recent weeks, it has also allowed for Nathan Broadhead to come into the starting XI without loosening the team's impressive defensive shape.
But Cirkin will play no part in this final week of the regular campaign, and it seems reasonable to assume that will be the same with Winchester.
Sunderland's longerterm lack of options in the full-back positions will be exposed again, and it seemed likely ahead of last night’s clash with Rotherham United that Neil would turn to Callum Doyle as he bids to get his side over the line in the race for the top six.
Neil initially turned to Winchester to step in for Cirkin on Saturday, but afterwards he revealed that was primarily because Doyle's training load after illness had not been enough to consider him for a start.
Thrown in unexpectedly, the Manchester City loanee did well, even if the circumstances of the game quickly came to suit him.
With little defensive pressure, Doyle drove out with the ball and broke lines with his passing, as he so often did in those first few months of the season.
A regular under Lee Johnson, this was only his fifth appearance under Neil.
That was no reflection of his ability, Neil of the belief that he had been overplayed and was as a result at risk of major burnout.
A minor hip problem and more recently some illness issues have hampered his chances of getting in the XI, but now he looks to be a key figure again if Sunderland are to get out of the third tier at the fourth time of asking.
Neil does of course have the option of bringing Arbenit Xhemajli back into the side, given how well he can deal with direct opposition.
But alongside Wright and Danny Batth, the Sunderland boss may feel that leaves his side lacking pace and quality on the ball.
That could also be crucial in Saturday’s game against Morecambe.
In front of Doyle, it may well be that Neil looks to end the campaign by switching Patrick Roberts with a more defensive wing-back, possibly Luke O'Nien or even Lynden Gooch.
Regardless, it looks as if Manchester City loanee Doyle will be given the chance to end an ultimately impressive season on a high.