Journalist James Copley has urged Alex Neil to not start Jack Diamond as a left wing-back this evening for Sunderland while speaking on The Roar podcast.
Despite Sunderland’s Championship season being just two games old, they are already forced to turn their attention to another competition in the form of the Carabao Cup, which they will have fond memories of, having reached the quarter-finals last season.
The Black Cats are currently sitting pretty in second after going unbeaten in their opening two games, picking up four points in the process – including an impressive 3-2 win away from home against Bristol City, but that counts for nothing in cup competitions.
With the focus likely to be on the league and survival, Neil may make changes tonight against Sheffield Wednesday, but Copley doesn’t want one of them to be Diamond as a left wing-back.
Will Sunderland win tonight?
Yes!
No!
He said: “It depends on the personnel he wants to go with, I suppose because you wouldn’t really want Diamond as a left wing-back if he does play. I mean, he’s played off the striker during pre-season – I know that was partly out of necessity.”
TIF Thoughts on Diamond potentially featuring tonight…
After spending the majority of last season out on loan with Harrogate Town and impressing with 23 goal involvements across all competitions, Diamond may have been hoping to kick on with his boyhood club this season, but as of yet, he’s yet to get off the bench.
However, with less pressure being on the Carabao Cup and his ability to play in several different positions, this could be a great opportunity for him to catch Neil’s attention and prove he deserves more minutes moving forward in what will be a very tough and busy season.
While he appears to be out of Neil’s plans at present, cup competitions will certainly be a chance to force his way into them, so a good performance could do his first-team prospects at the Stadium of Light the world of good.