I thinks its shocking the way some of our fans have turned on him in recent weeks. The kids only 18 playing his first competetive season in football and we've made him play 32 out of 34 games between August and Feb. Its not his fault we have been incapable of giving him the break he deserved.
Those games dont include the England U20 games that he's played every match aswell, its no wonder he's physically and mentally drained which has inevitably effected his performance.
To put so much promotion pressure on such a young lad is pretty shameful really........
Teenager Callum Doyle has returned to training refreshed this week after being given time off to recharge his batteries.
Sunderland's on-loan Manchester City defender is in his first season playing senior football and had started 32 out of 34 league games prior to last weekend's trip to Wigan, with the 18-year-old looking visibly fatigued in recent weeks and his form suffering as a result.
But Black Cats boss Alex Neil gave Doyle a few days off last week and rested him against the Latics, with Arbenit Xhemajli drafted into the side for the 3-0 win at the DW Stadium. Doyle has been back at the Academy of Light this week and Neil says the youngster has benefited from the break.
"Callum needed the break," he said. "He needed a mental break, as much as anything.
"I told him to go home, disappear, go spend some time with your family, because we've asked a lot of him. And in terms of spirits, he has certainly come back in a much better place compared to where he was before he left.
"Kids like that need it [a break]. We have to remember that he is only 18, and there's been a hell of a lot of pressure and expectation put on him."
Those games dont include the England U20 games that he's played every match aswell, its no wonder he's physically and mentally drained which has inevitably effected his performance.
To put so much promotion pressure on such a young lad is pretty shameful really........
Teenager Callum Doyle has returned to training refreshed this week after being given time off to recharge his batteries.
Sunderland's on-loan Manchester City defender is in his first season playing senior football and had started 32 out of 34 league games prior to last weekend's trip to Wigan, with the 18-year-old looking visibly fatigued in recent weeks and his form suffering as a result.
But Black Cats boss Alex Neil gave Doyle a few days off last week and rested him against the Latics, with Arbenit Xhemajli drafted into the side for the 3-0 win at the DW Stadium. Doyle has been back at the Academy of Light this week and Neil says the youngster has benefited from the break.
"Callum needed the break," he said. "He needed a mental break, as much as anything.
"I told him to go home, disappear, go spend some time with your family, because we've asked a lot of him. And in terms of spirits, he has certainly come back in a much better place compared to where he was before he left.
"Kids like that need it [a break]. We have to remember that he is only 18, and there's been a hell of a lot of pressure and expectation put on him."
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