Journalist James Copley admits it was interesting that Sunderland youngster Max Thompson didn’t start in their last Premier League 2 clash amid the club’s striker woes.
Sunderland enjoyed a blistering start to the season and were even inside the play-off places at one point, but cruel injuries to the likes of Ross Stewart and Ellis Simms have seen them struggle in the final third with the side scoring just one goal in their last three league games and have fallen down the table.
Stewart is now not expected to be back in first-team action until after the World Cup according to Phil Smith, and while Simms is now back in training, this weekend will come too soon, according to Copley, so it could be a chance for youngster Thompson to shine.
The summer signing didn’t start for the Under-21s against Leeds United in their PL2 clash on Wearside, which Copley admitted on The Roar podcast was interesting considering the club’s issues going forward.
Discussing a recent vote between Sunderland fans on who should start up front for the Black Cats against Wigan Athletic this weekend, he said: “Max Thompson is actually leading that vote with 53.1%. Jack Clarke has 36% and Alex Pritchard has 8.1%, with a smattering of votes for the ‘Other’ [option].
Will Stewart play before the World Cup?
Yes!
No!
“What’s interesting is that Max Thompson didn’t start against Leeds for the Under-21s and hasn’t really looked anywhere near the Sunderland first-team squad yet.”
TIF Thoughts on Thompson…
As Tony Mowbray has shown quite often this season, he isn’t afraid to hand youngsters a chance at Championship level if they are good enough and performing well in training, with Amad Diallo and Jewison Bennette among those to feature thus far.
However, given that Thompson is yet to even be named on the bench this season despite Sunderland’s lack of options at centre-forward that would perhaps suggest he’s not quite ready to cut it at this level.
Although, Mowbray may well have instructed the Under-21s to rest Thompson as he could be in line to feature at the weekend for the first team as they look for answers in the final third.