JOHN OâShea is likely to be out for several weeks with the hamstring strain picked up in the weekendâs game against Spurs. And that will leave Sunderland seriously stretched in central defence going into the New Year. With OâSheaâs former Manchester United team-mate Wes Brown on the long-term injured list, Sunderland are effectively down to three recognised centre-halves â Carlos Cuellar, Titus Bramble and Matt Kilgallon. And that will concentrate manager Martin OâNeilâs thoughts with the January transfer window set to open tomorrow. The manager has revealed that ideally he would like to strengthen all the way through the team next month. But OâSheaâs injury leaves Sunderland looking particularly vulnerable at the back. Phil Bardsley could be pressed into service as an emergency centre-half but he is struggling for form after being out virtually all season with injury and on Saturday illness prevented him from making the squad to face Tottenham. OâSheaâs injury could pave the way for Bramble to re-state his first-team claims. The big defender, now in the last year of his contract, believes he can prove himself worthy of a new deal and has spent the last couple of months hoping to play more. But OâNeill pointed out that the 31-year-old could have no complaints about not getting into the team ahead of Cuellar and OâShea, so far in the campaign. âCuellar didnât have is finest game against Spurs but he has put his heart and soul into things here at Sunderland and has deserved is chance while OâShea has also shown he deserves to be in the side,â said the Sunderland manager. âBut John could be out for some time and thatâs a blow. âIt leaves us a bit short there. âItâs frustrating, but for the moment we just have to get on with things. âTitus is a good player and I have no qualms about putting him in but he hasnât been fit for some considerable time and when heâs come back heâs found John and Carlos in good form. âYou have to be very fit to play in this league, itâs very demanding and I think it has taken time for Titus to get back there. âHe limped off with a calf injury last Boxing Day and we didnât see him again until the last day of last season. âThatâs a long time for us to be without a stalwart player and a long time for him to be out. âSo he has had those things to contend with.â Regardless of which centre-half partners Cuellar at Anfield on Wednesday - Kilgallon or Bramble - Danny Rose can expect an immediate return to the first team for the trip to Liverpool. OâNeill said: âIt was unfortunate he couldnât stay in the first team after being in such good form but of course he couldnât play against his parent club, which ruled him out of the Spurs match. âHopefully though that little mini-rest will do him good and he can take up where he left off when he returns.â
Hands up those who are surprised at this news . . . . . . . . . . . . . . not many then. At the time we should have bought one or the other Wes or JOS not both as both were crocks when SAF "let" us have them we know why now.
Sorry Talc but I cant be with you on this one. I agree about Brown but JOS has been imperious imo in the ehart of our defence and was our MotM until he went off Saturday again. I think the lad is a real calming influence in our defense and part of the reason, along with Mig why we have the 2nd best clean sheets records in the division
Fair point mate but what about the Man Utd game where he was their MOTM? Maybe we bought two because we knew one or the other would be out, if that was the case then fine. Come on Cest you tried this on me when we got them, I'll give you Fletcher mate but not these two. They have both had good and bad games and their ability is not in question it's their fitness that is my problem with them. We wuz robbed.
