I’ll play anywhere to help us go up, says Gooch
LYNDEN Gooch is happy to ride to Sunderland’s rescue and fill in at fullback as he looks to help end the club’s four-year stay in League One purgatory.
Gooch has demonstrated his versatility this season, with Black Cats boss Alex Neil and his predecessor Lee Johnson both using him in a variety of different positions.
He has played in both full-back roles, as a wing-back on either side, in midfield and also as a wide forward at various times.
Gooch admits it has been difficult adjusting to the different demands of those roles but insists he will play anywhere as the club looks to achieve promotion to the Championship via the play-offs.
“I’ve said for yearst I’m willing to play anywhere for the team and the lads and the club,” said Gooch, who played at right-back in Friday’s 1-0 play-off semi-final first-leg win against Sheffield Wednesday at the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland take their slender lead into tonight’s second leg at Hillsborough.
Gooch added: “You have to change your mindset in the way you play in each different position, that’s why I think sometimes people say someone’s not good enough with this and that. You are constantly changing your mind with the way you have to play the game and there are different roles with what you are doing. I just try to the best of my ability to help the team and that’s my role at the minute.
“We have kind of struggled in fullback positions this season and
myself and Carl Winchester have had to really step up on that righthand side. Even on the left at times, when we have had injuries, I have had to play there so I just try to do the best I can.
“It’s difficult at times for myself but it’s for the good of the team and to be fair I think people are starting to see now that I can defend.
“I think managers play me there because they trust me and they know I can play both sides of the ball.
“That’s why I think managers have played me in those positions when needed and at the minute I pride myself on defending well and helping the team.
“When I can attack I try and attack the best I can.”
At only 26, Gooch is nonetheless Sunderland’s longest-serving player, having left his native USA to join the club’s academy fulltime a decade ago and making his senior debut in 2015.
In March last year, he scored
the only goal in the EFL Trophy final as the club ended its 48-year wait for a win at Wembley.
Now he wants to similarly help end the Black Cats’ run of disappointments in the play-offs, with the club having lost on all six occasions they have been involved in the end-of-season competitions since they were introduced back in the 1980s.
“Without a doubt,” he said of that aim.
“I said when I signed a new deal three and a half years ago that I wanted to stay to achieve promotion, not only help us as players but the people who work for the club as well.
“I have been here a long time and a lot of people are really close friends who I consider family. If we can achieve promotion for them it’s great for everyone.”
PORTSMOUTH boss Danny Cowley believes Sheffield Wednesday have a better chance of reaching the play-off final because of their second-leg home advantage.
“It’s tough, I think just Sheffield Wednesday because of their home form,” said Cowley when asked which team he would rather be managing tonight.
“They’ve been incredible, over 50 points at home and 35,000 people right behind them. I just think they’ll be difficult to stop.”