We Need To – Former Sunderland Star Stresses Area In Urgent Need Of Improvement
Former Sunderland star Danny Collins pointed out that the Black Cats have several strikers in their squad and stressed that Tony Mowbray has to get one of the front men firing goals soon.
Last season, Sunderland struggled in front of the opposition goal due to not having centre-forward options after Ross Stewart’s injury.
This summer, the Black Cats sold Ross Stewart and brought in four fresh faces in the form of Mason Burstow, Eliezer Mayenda, Nazariy Rusyn and Luis Semedo.
Collins believes that Sunderland have good depth in their squad and believes that the Black Cats have strengthened their striking ranks sufficiently.
However, none of the new Black Cats centre forward signings have found the back of the net and Collins believes Mowbray has to find a way to get them scoring.
“In terms of the general squad, I think we have a good bit of strength and depth there”, Collins told Sunderland’s media.
“Now, obviously, at the top end of the pitch, strikers, we have three to pick from really.
“We need to get one of them firing.”
Sunderland will take on Sheffield Wednesday on Friday and will be looking to bounce back to winning ways against Xisco Munoz’s side after their Cardiff City defeat at the weekend.
Sunderland sweat over key man as Black Cats bid to heap more misery on Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday head into Friday night’s clash still searching for their first Championship victory of the season after a morale-sapping loss at Swansea last time out
Sunderland head to Sheffield Wednesday on Friday night looking to pile more misery on the beleaguered Owls. Xisco Munoz’s side are rock-bottom of the Championship and remain without a win.
Even at this early juncture in the season they are already cut adrift in the relegation places. Wednesday is a far from happy place right now amid plenty of supporter unrest at events both on and off the field.
With that in mind Sunderland will arrive looking to inflict yet more pain on their hosts. They will also be looking to get back to form having suffered a blip last time out. Tony Mowbray’s men were beaten 1-0 at home by Cardiff City last Sunday. Former Wednesday loanee Mark McGuinness popped up with a late winner, heading home from a corner inside the final few minutes at the Stadium of Light.
Despite the setback Sunderland remain fifth and will be hoping to return to winning ways in S6. They do however have a clutch of injury worries heading into the game.
Influential midfielder Bradley Dack is expected to miss the clash. The 29-year-old has sat out the Black Cats’ last three matches with a hamstring strain and is not expected to be back in time for the Hillsborough trip.
Mowbray recently spoke of the ex-Blackburn man’s importance but also how it was not realistic to expect him to play game in, game out given his injury struggles in recent years.
He said: “There was no intention of bringing Bradley in on the back of two cruciates and expecting him to play 40-odd games. If we can get 25 games out of Bradley Dack this year we’ll be more than happy.”
Elsewhere, there are doubts over Jewison Bennette (illness), Pierre Ekwah (dead leg) and Dennis Cirkin (hamstring). There are also a number of long-term absentees including Corry Evans and Jay Matete. Sunderland have been handed an increased allocation meaning there is set to be 3,600 Mackems in the away end on Friday night (8pm kick-off).
