Along with Nos, Deacon, Tounkara, McClean and 6 others My brother is there keeping me updated. Truly hope Meyler gets back to where he was as I think he could be vital to our team. Colback, catts, gardner and Vaughan for all their qualities all got cursed with being short arses, Meyler is a tall big strong lad and we've lacked that in the middle. Hoping to hear good things again about McClean. For all I like Meyler I wish Bruce had brought McClean on and gone for the win.
Tounkara is the striker isn't he lads maybe worth look or at least a place on the bench against Arsenal. Hope Meyler comes through it okay and gets back into the first team asap we need the option when Catts is booked or starts to lose it again.
Yeah Tounkara is a striker built like a tank, maybe lacks a little class from what I've heard but a battering ram could come in handy at the Emirates.
Glad Meyler is getting more match practice....he looked like he could be a good player for us before his first injury. Hmm Tounkara...didnt set the world alight when on loan to Southend? was it?...big battering ram..so was Billy Whitehurst and he was ****e. Whats up with Noble still injured?....would like to see him more in the team...more a natural goalscorer.
From reading Melyers tweets his knee still swells up after playing, if thats the case then 90minutes could mean thats now stopped, 45 means its still happening. Did anyone see how McClean got on from what I have heard the lad is a class act and could become a very good player.
Deacon scored again.. I've heard good things about this lad and he always seems to pop up on the scoresheet for the reserves.. he's a winger isn't he? Anyone at the match could give us updates on Deacon, McClean and Meyler? Interested to know how tey did..
Sunderland Res 3 Wigan Athletic Res 1 Andrew Lisgo Sunderland midfielder David Meyler played 90 minutes and captained Keith Bertschin's reserve side as they ran out 3-1 winners against Wigan Athletic. The Republic of Ireland youngster played his first full game at Eppleton this season as he continued his comeback from a long-term knee injury. First-half goals from Craig Lynch (pictured) and Oumare Tounkara and a strike from second-half substitute Roarie Deacon earned the Black Cats three points as they came back from a goal down to beat the Latics' second string. The game had a slow start but it was the visitors who started the brightest. On 12 minutes Wigan's England Under-20 international Callum McManaman beat Lynch on the left wing and cut inside Liam Marrs at right back. McManaman's shot was comfortably collected by Ben Wilson in goal who claimed the ball low to his bottom right corner. Sunderland's first chance came on 20 minutes when Meyler found James McClean on the left wing with a lovely lofted ball. McClean put a quick, low ball into the box which stretched the Wigan defence however it was just too quick for Tounkara who would surely have found the back of the net if he had connected. But just before the half-hour mark the deadlock was broken by the visitors. Noucha Dicko cut inside Elliott to drive a low shot across Wilson's goal. The Black Cats keeper could only parry the powerful shot and striker Rugg slid in to beat Nyron Nosworthy to find the back of the back from three yards. Wigan's lead lasted just ten minutes before the home side equalised through Lynch. Jordan Cook held the ball up on the edge of the centre circle inside the Wigan half, before threading the ball through to Lynch who beat the high Wigan back line to run through onto goal and hit a low shot which found the bottom left corner of Lee Nicholls' net. Just before the break Sunderland added a second after pressure from the Black Cats resulted in a corner from a blocked Lynch shot. Irish winger James McClean whipped the ball into the middle of the box for French striker Tounkara to head home from six yards. Sunderland carried on the second half as they finished the first with Cook making numerous runs at the opposing back line. Despite Cook and McClean's weaving runs, the Black Cats were unable to test Nicholls in the Wigan goal. The best chance early in the second half fell to Wigan with Ryan Watson drilling a shot just over Wilson's crossbar. The Wigan attacker picked the ball up in the Sunderland half before letting rip with a powerful strike from 25 yards out. On 75 minutes summer recruit Deacon replaced Tounkara up front for the Black Cats and he made an immediate impact, netting a third for Sunderland on 79 minutes. McClean played the ball out onto the left wing to Meyler, who hit a one-two towards the byline for McClean to pull the ball back across the six-yard box where Deacon slid in at the back post to score. The home side finished the game strongly as the Black Cats recorded a comfortable win. Sunderland: B Wilson, Marrs, Bagnall (Knott, 9), Meyler, Egan, Nosworthy, Lynch, Elliott, Tounkara (Deacon, 75), Cook (Gorrin, 86), McClean. Subs Not Used: Oliver, King. Wigan: Nicholls, McCormack, Mustoe, Kiernan, Langley, Chow, Watson, Dicko, Rugg, McManaman, Redmond. Subs: Hare, Breeze, Morris, Boothman, Dawson.
Is that the same type of ball we see Cattermole play every week.... Ah yes - just like Cattermole's passing
All sounds hopefull, and the lad himself is positive about it all....More competition for places, and that's good. DAVID Meyler completed his first full game in 10 months last night to raise further hopes that he can overcome not one but two career-threatening injuries in the space of 18 months. The 22-year-old played the full 90 minutes in the Reserves’ 3-1 win over Wigan at Eppleton CW to make it two milestones in four days – the combative midfielder having made his first-team return in the dying minutes of Sunderland’s 2-2 weekend draw with West Brom. And afterwards he was elated to make such significant progress on the comeback trail. “It’s great,” he told the Echo. “It felt good to play a full game again and I’ve had no reaction to it whatsoever – the knee feels fine and I’m pleased with that. “I know I’ve got to take my time and be careful as I come back, but there’s really light at the end of the tunnel now and I’m looking forward to getting fitter and sharper now.” The Republic of Ireland midfielder has barely played since May last year after suffering two serious knee ligament injuries, the second of which was sustained at Aston Villa in January, just a handful of matches into his comeback. Both January’s injury and the one against Manchester United the previous May were to the right knee and it placed serious doubts over the young Irishman’s prospect of ever returning to competitive football. Meyler has shown terrific strength of character to twice battle back from the injuries which could have ended his career but admits that last night was the acid test. “There is a mental hurdle to get over when you’ve had a serious injury, but getting through the 90 minutes last night – and the few minutes I had in the first team at the weekend – has got me over that,” he said. “To come off the bench on Saturday against West Brom was fantastic, if a little unexpected. “I hadn’t been in the original squad, but David Vaughan was ill and I was told to get myself ready. “To be honest, I was shocked by the reception I got when I came on to the pitch – to hear the fans cheering like they did. “I was thrilled and I’d like to thank all the fans for the support they have given me. “I was delighted to have got on and it goes to show that the manager has got trust and faith in me. “Now I just want to get back playing and repay him.” Meyler has shown tremendous dedication to get back playing again, with his rehab including a stint at a specialist clinic in America which has given him career-long advice on how to look after himself and the knee from now on. He added: “The physios here at Sunderland, and the people I worked with over in America, have been brilliant in teaching me how to handle it from now on and how to use my balance to protect it. “I have worked hard to get fit again and I’m just delighted to be back playing again. “When you’ve had a serious injury like this one, it makes you appreciate your career all the more. “When I was growing up, all I wanted to do was play football and Roy Keane gave me the chance to come to Sunderland and Steve Bruce gave me the chance to make my debut. “But when you have played 15 games or so and then the physios tell you that you are going to be out for eight or nine months, it is a real kick in the teeth. “I’ve had great support from everyone at the club, though, and I’m really grateful for that. Hopefully I can just continue to improve now.”
Makes me really want to see McClean given a chance for the first team, he sounds mint from that... 2 assists and another decent ball in which someone with a bit of pace would have put away, sounds very promising.
