Here are the three players who should be given a chance in Sunderland’s final eight games of the campaign.
Sunderland‘s horrific form that has seen them pick up one point from seven games, has unsurprisingly shattered their chances of reaching the play-offs this season.
It is only the second time the Black Cats have failed to reach the play-offs since they were relegated six years ago – leaving them with a lack of interest in their final stretch of games.
While they could technically still get relegated, Mike Dodds‘ side don’t really have much to play for now and it looks like they are just going to have to settle for a mid-table finish in what has been a disastrous campaign.
With a majority of the current team performing poorly in recent months, it is about time that Dodds started to mix things up a bit and allow certain players to prove themselves with no consequences.
Here are the three players who should be given a chance in the first team until the end of the season…
Chris Rigg
Sunderland fans had been calling for Chris Rigg to be handed his first start for months until it finally came against Leicester.
The midfielder was brilliant despite defeat, but he was then dropped from the starting line-up after conceding a penalty in the following game against Southampton.
While it would usually be understandable if we didn’t want to chuck him in for every single game at the end of the campaign, there is literally no pressure on him at this point.
Rigg could well be a regular in the first team next season and we should be using the next eight games as an opportunity for him to audition to do so. Not to mention the fact that he is already on of our best midfielders anyway.
Tom Watson
Tom Watson was handed his senior debut in a two-minute cameo against Huddersfield Town last April, while he has since returned to the U21 and U18s.
The winger has now scored six goals and provided two assists in 12 games in all competitions for the youth teams, while he has also been likened to star man Jack Clarke.
Watson is an undeniable talent and has already attracted interest from Rangers and several Premier League clubs.
He is only 17 years old, but now seems like the right time to give him a taste of senior football.
Timothee Pembele
The arrival of Timothee Pembele from Paris Saint-Germain was very exciting last summer, but the Frenchman has barely had a sniff of Championship football since.
The defender returned from injury at Christmas, but has only managed 85 minutes of action in the last three months, while he is still awaiting his first start.
It is no surprise that Pembele has been unable to budge Trai Hume from the starting line-up, given that he has been one of our best players this season. However, there would be no harm in giving him a couple of chances before the season is up.
Pembele is still only 21 years old and has plenty to learn, while it is likely to take him a while to settle into life in England.
If we want him to have an impact on the team next season, then we mays well allow him to prepare over the next month. He’s never going to learn just by sitting on the bench all the time.
