Sunderland Boss Tony Mowbray Explains His Potential Star Selection Decision

Sunderland Boss Tony Mowbray Explains His Potential Star Selection Decision
Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray explains his Patrick Roberts selection decision
Fit-again Patrick Roberts has yet to return to Sunderland’s starting XI despite recovering from a hamstring problem

Patrick Roberts has been assured that he will soon return to Sunderland’s starting line-up, with boss Tony Mowbray insisting it is a positive that he has felt able to leave out such an ‘amazing’ talent. Roberts suffered a hamstring strain in the Black Cats’ win against Rotherham last month which led to him sitting out two games before the international break game him time to fully recover.

 

But in the former Manchester City man’s absence, Abdoullah Ba has come into the side and seized his chance to impress, keeping Roberts out of the side for the last three games. Roberts has made an impact from the bench in those three games last week, the back-to-back wins against QPR and Blackburn Rovers, and the weekend home defeat against Cardiff City, and Mowbray says Ba’s form has meant there was no need to rush Roberts back after his injury and thrust him straight back into a hectic schedule.

But now he has a decision to make over whether to stick with Ba or restore Roberts to his starting XI when Sunderland take on Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough on Friday night. “I see it as a positive, really,” said Mowbray, of having the ability to leave out Roberts.

“I’ve said it in the past – people must think I’m mad, how can I pick a team without Patrick Roberts? He’s just an amazing footballer who can really damage teams in this league and be so creative.

“But I’ve had conversations with Pat. He understands. He had a hamstring injury and, in a three-game week [such as last week], there’s no reason for him to worry about how much gametime he gets.

“He’s had quite significant gametime – he came on at half-time against QPR, and within the first 15 minutes of the second half at Blackburn. Patrick is fine with it, I’m pretty sure of that, and it’s just good to be able to turn around and see a player that you know can affect the game [available on the bench].

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“You want players on the bench who you know you can bring on to affect the game, and to give other players a break – players you can bring on and it doesn’t weaken your side, it keeps it just as strong as it was to start with. Patrick understands the situation and it is not going to be long before he is back starting again and somebody else [is on the bench].”

 

Sunderland’s 1-0 defeat against Cardiff halted their three-game winning streak and also their five-match unbeaten run. But they have an opportunity to get back on course on Friday when they face bottom-of-the-table Wednesday, who are still winless following their promotion from League One over the summer.