Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray is attempting to integrate four strikers into his squad while still producing results.
Sunderland’s strikers are still waiting for their first goal, but Tony Mowbray believes they made an impact in yesterday’s win over Birmingham City at the Stadium of Light. More than a third of the season has passed, and the Black Cats’ four specialist strikers, Nazariy Rusyn, Luis Hemir, Eliezer Mayenda, and on-loan Chelsea player Mason Burstow, have yet to score.
But Ukrainian Rusyn, who was making his third start, put in his best performance yet, hitting the crossbar in the first half and setting up Jobe Bellingham for the opening goal. Burstow started games earlier in the season before being benched, but he looked lively when he came off the bench for the final few minutes, forcing the goalkeeper to save and curling a shot narrowly wide.
Mayenda also showed promise on his long-awaited debut after recovering from a hamstring injury sustained shortly after signing in the summer, while Hemir was an unused substitute. Mayenda and Hemir are both teenagers, while Burstow is 20. Rusyn, at 25, is older but still adjusting to a new country and league.
Mowbray says he has to strike a balance between integrating them into the team and delivering results. “I don’t think I’ve ever said that they’re not good players – they’re just not necessarily ready,” he was quoted as saying.
“They’re talented players.” This club brings in young footballers and expects us to polish them up, give them confidence, allow them to play, and give them some minutes on the field.
“As a striker, you’re always in the spotlight because you need to score.” If you score, you are the hero; if you don’t, another game has passed and it has become a story.
“We like every striker. We’ve talked about Mayenda, who is a promising young player.
“I thought Mason came on [against Birmingham] and, despite playing a little wide, had a couple of amazing chances and worked his socks off for the team.” We’re excited about these players, but the final decision is whether I believe they’re ready to start ahead of this player or that player, and if the answer is no… because we’re trying to win football games.
“We had 40,000 fans here yesterday, and they came to see Sunderland win, not to see Sunderland give a bunch of young guys debuts.” It’s a delicate balance, and that’s what I’m trying to achieve – even if I sometimes get it wrong!”
Koji Miyoshi cancelled out Bellingham’s goal before halftime, but on his league debut, defender Nectar Triantis forced Dion Sanderson into an own-goal on the hour, and substitute Adil Aouchiche made it 3-1 with a quarter-hour remaining. Sunderland enter the international break on the back of a three-match unbeaten run that has yielded seven points, placing them sixth in the table.
A week from Saturday, they return to action at Home Park against Plymouth Argyle.
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