Tony Mowbray decided to replace Elizer Mayenda ahead of Sunderland's trip to Millwall
Sunderland boss Toni Mowbray will have to decide whether Eliezer Maenda can play in his third game in a week, having only recently returned from injury.
Tony Mowbray decided to replace Elizer Mayenda ahead of Sunderland's trip to Millwall
Sunderland boss Toni Mowbray will have to decide whether Eliezer Maenda can play in his third game in a week, having only recently returned from injury.
Tony Mowbray is weighing up whether to risk tomorrow against Elizer Mayenda at Millwall, which will be his third game in a week, with the striker only recently returning from injury. The Spaniard suffered a hamstring injury almost as soon as he joined Sunderland in the summer and came off the bench against Birmingham City before the international break.
After a two-week timeout, the teenager played the full second half of last weekend's Black Cats' defeat to Plymouth Argyle before making his first start against Huddersfield Town in midweek, which lasted 74 minutes against the Hounds. With Nazari Rusin doubtful for a groin problem and loan Chelsea striker Mason Burstow still struggling with a foot problem, Mowbray must decide whether to bring Manda back on the pitch or take a safety-first approach and leave him out to avoid the possibility of a hamstring problem.
We've seen what Eliezer can do," Mowbray said. 'He's got the power and the speed and it's just an example of how we play.
On top of that, he didn't get a chance to train with us because he was injured for a long time, he basically took his hamstring off the bone on the first day and he was out for a long time after that. The little flashes that we see in training are probably similar to what you see in competitions, where there's talent.
It's a red flag for us because he's been out for a couple of months and then there's part of two games this week. It was a big request to get him in the third race because hamstrings were risky.
We have a duty of care to him and we will hit this ** the next day or so. We do have other options, although Nazari is skeptical about groin problems.
He'll probably try to train with us today (Friday) and we'll see. As you know, Mason has a problem with his foot which keeps him out of Plymouth, but I hope he can train today, so I'll have a choice – I'll decide which way we go after training.
Costa Rican winger Jewison Bennette, who missed his last two games after reporting sick after playing internationally, will not travel to Millwall, but he has now returned to training. "I saw him around the building, he put on his boots yesterday but he couldn't travel," Mowbray said.
He will be ready for the next game, at home to West Bromwich Albion next weekend. ”