Wat a big test Rovers clash is for me - Dunc
DUNCAN Watmore is expecting his return to fitness to step up a level this afternoon after the phoney war of two cup appearances.
Technically, Watmore made his first senior appearance of 2018 in the Football League Trophy game at home to Notts County.
However, with a raft of personnel changes and only 8,580 fans at the Stadium of Light, the 2-0 win felt more like a reserve-team match.
The same was true of his next outing, when 8,212 saw the Black Cats knocked out of the FA Cup by Walsall in a second-round replay.
Watmore, who suffered a second cruciate knee ligament injury of his career in November 2017, is hoping to make his League One debut at home to Bristol Rovers today.
That will be an altogether differ- ent experience.
The 24-year-old forward, who looked sharp against the Magpies and the Saddlers playing as a centre-forward, said: “Each game is kind of a step up in the right direction because Tuesday was a step up on the intensity of the Checkatrade (rophy and I am sure the league will be a step-up on the FA Cup tie.
“That is just the way it goes and that is why it has worked out well in terms of managing the process.
“I am fully aware the Bristol Rovers game is going to be very intense and something I am going to have to manage. It is what we have worked so hard for, that matchday moment in the league and helping the club.
“Our ultimate aim is to get promoted and I would love to contribute in the second half of the season to the lads doing that.”
Watmore has had his fair share of big games since joining Sunderland in May 2013 but has so far had to sit out their first sustained period of success since he joined. He added: “I have experienced a lot of highs and lots of low here.
“When we stayed up under Sam Allardyce and the reaction then, that day we won 3-0 against Everton, I had never seen the stadium like that in my life.
“Feelings like that are why you do this job and what makes us so lucky.
“This season the lads have been doing brilliantly and winning games and that is something you are desperate to be part of.
“I really want to contribute to that in the second half of the season and hopefully I can be involved in more and more of them.”
Watmore’s return to fitness comes at a good time.
In October/November, the team won eight consecutive games with a settled side but now, with their fixture list congested and their form having taken a (relative) dip, it is only to be expected manager Jack Ross will look to freshen his team up on a regular basis.
Watmore said: “This Christmas is going to be busy but that is not a bad thing when you can win more games.
“That is how we are looking at it and we are looking forward to putting together a really good Christmas run.”