Jack Ross admits he is facing a number of selection dilemmas this weekend with Glenn Loovens and Adam Matthews in contention to feature.After a difficult start to the season in terms of injuries, the Sunderland boss is close to having a clean bill of health. He also has positive news regarding Aiden McGeady, who is still some way off a competitive return but is neverthless making good progress. Ross said: "Both Glenn and Adam are very close and will be close to being in consideration [for Fleetwood]. Really beyond that we’re only really left with Aiden and Duncan. Aiden is the most positive he’s been in the work he’s been able to do. "He’s had several setbacks but where he is now is the furthest down the line in terms of getting back to full fitness. "Duncan is progressing well but he understands and appreciates that we have a duty of care. We’d love him to be involved but we have to do it properly, it has been two serious injuries. But he’s getting ever closer." Having had no negative reactions from Tuesday night's Checkatrade Trophy game, Tom Flanagan, Jerome Sinclair and Charlie Wyke will all be in contention to feature. Ross had special praise for Flanagan, a key player in his pre-season campaign and one who he is thrilled to have back. He said: "He was the one I probably felt most sorry for when he picked up that injury because we’d asked a lot of him. "We were short in that area but he stepped up really well and got better with every game. "The Stoke game was testament to his conditioning levels because he looked fit. "It was like that when he came in, he came in late but he looks after himself and again he looked fit. He’s a good character and again just gives us those extra options."
"...we have a duty of care"... Not words you'd necessarily expect to hear from the lips of a football manager. Watmore could be a real weapon in this league but the manager refuses to rush him back. I'm liking this guy more and more!
Well we've nearly got the whole squad fit at last and most of us, me included have stated ours is the best squad in this division so lads now is the time to prove it by shutting up Fleetwood 's manager Mr Barton and bring home three points in Saturday. Let's have a cracking performance and send the fans home happy again.
Its the defence that bothers me though Gil. They appear to start every game half asleep. We've got lots of goals in this team but we're struggling to keep clean sheets. That's a real concern for a serious promotion challenge.
Funny how when we're winning games under a manager the players like the injury list magically disappears.
I'm optimistic mate but not that much. And I think Peterborough are going to give us a good run. I was thinking they'd fall back soon but after hearing on the local news about what their new manager has been up to, I think they're going to mount a good promotion challenge.
I fully expect us to go up automatic and Peterborough to be thereabouts. If we can keep clear of injuries I think we have a great squad for this league and it will be difficult keeping all the players happy.
I expect us to go up automatically too. I'm leas worried about keeping players happy. That'll come with winning games and being part of a promotion-pushing team.
During the summer he created a new squad, virtually from scratch. There are only 3 players left from last season. 17-18 out, 20 in! He started signing them early and got them together earlier for pre-season, took them off to a summer camp in Portugal, the sort of thing bigger clubs do. He's introduced new training methods, I've heard fans down here say that players are saying they're fitter than they've ever been. The manager's a bit old school, In the Fergie mould - his hair-dryer rants are notorious apparently, but the players love him. Mentioned it a few weeks ago, this is the guy I hoped we'd get before Ross signed. They're gonna be a force in the league this year.
Sounds like it, couldn't help but notice that with a couple of minor changes it could also be a description of us.
Wow hes done a cracking job integrating that many new players togeather in 3 months. I couldn't possibly comment on how they will do this season because i have no knowledge about them whatsoever. The final league will depend on whose got the strongest squad i think because alot of these teams around us havent had a number of injuries to contend with yet and when they do its all about what level of player fills in for them. We're spoilt for choice when everybody's fit, we still have an irish international and former England U21 star to return yet so i fully expect us to fill in one of those automatic promotion spots.
Its unreal! He's got 20odd strangers playing like they've known each other for years! I'm still sure they'll finish below us though.
