A squad full of leaders, says Cats boss Ross
MANAGER HAS MANY OPTIONS
JACK Ross says he has a group of leaders at Sunderland after handing Max Power the captaincy on Tuesday night.
With captain George Honeyman and Glenn Loovens injured, and Lee Cattermole suspended, the armband passed to midfielder Power for Tuesday’s 2-2 draw with Peterborough United.
Ross (right) thinks he has plenty of options to choose from when it comes to leaders.
“He deserves it in terms of the players that were available on Tuesday because of the way he trains every single day, how he is around the group and the standards he sets on the pitch as well,” said the manager. “I think, around the group, we have a number of players who can take on that role and I wanted that.
“George has done the job fantastically well for me as a young man [of 24], but he’ll know that he’s got good support around him in Max and Catts and Glenn, Jack [Baldwin] – guys who have all done it – and Jon McLaughlin, who is experienced. These guys have all got good leadership attributes in different ways and Max was chuffed.
“That’s pleasing for me as a manager as it’s always interesting to see their reaction and he was honoured to do it. I think that was reflected in his performance.” Power was signed from Wigan Athletic in September, initially on loan, after Sunderland missed the deadline for permanent signings. Baldwin was another who arrived in the summer, after he was released by Peterborough United.
Posh manager Steve Evans claimed he wanted to bring a better quality of player to London Road and although they have prospered without the 25-year-old centre-back, he has been one of the Black Cats’ best performers this season.
“I think he is a good player,” Ross commented. “I believe that if we can progress through the leagues like we want to, then he can come with us.
“We identified players that can do that and are like that and he fits that bracket. I am talking about the character and how players are. He is so desperate to be a success here.
“It was a big game for him. I didn’t know [about] that comment [when Evans explained his reasoning for letting the defender go]. I hadn’t heard it and whether he had I don’t know, but I thought he gave a performance that reflected a player who was desperate to do well, and he did that again.”