Whickham may get chance as Fletcher is rested.

I'd like to see what this kid can do under Gus, today might just be the stage he needs.

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THE fate of Steven Fletcher’s 2013-14 campaign is hanging in the balance with the Scottish international ordered to rest for the next two weeks in a bid to save his season.


The striker has been troubled by a persistent Achilles tendon injury which has badly hampered both his training and his first-team football this year.

And despite all efforts to treat the problem, the 26-year-old has continued to struggle.

His last full game was the Capital One Cup semi-final second leg against Manchester United last month. He came on as a substitute in the Stoke game a week later but did not even make the bench for last Saturday’s Tyne-Wear derby.

And GusPoyet admits that Sunderland are in danger of running out of options other than surgery - a move which would obviously have big implications for the forwards’ season.

He told the Echo: “The plan is for Steven to rest and to receive specialist treatment.

“I really don’t know exactly what treatment he will have - I’m an expert on knees and ankles but not Achilles.

“The hope is that after a fortnight out, he will be able to return for the Arsenal game, towards the end of February.”

It looks like a last chance saloon moment for the Scot who has had a pretty miserable campaign so far.

Suffering from a long-term ankle injury at the start of it, he made a goal-scoring return in the 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace at the end of August but was soon on the sidelines again.

And although he returned, his 22 Sunderland appearances this season have yielded just three goals.

His situation has not been helped by the Achilles problem which has left him a shadow of his normal self up front but Poyet will hope that the enforced spell on the sidelines will cure the problem and make an operation unnecessary.

In the meantime Poyet has warned England Under 21 international Connor Wickham that he must seize the opportunity Fletcher’s unavailability presents.

“ I hope Connor is ready,” he said.

“He’s maybe not expecting to play but he must realise that he could be called on to play a big part for us.

“He needs to be prepared and I hope he is, because the way things are in the last few weeks, it has been a pleasure playing for Sunderland and this could be his chance to make his own impact.”

 

Nee mention of the Scocco lad?

 

As 'Sunderlandstu' said on another thread, Poyet is the lad's best ever chance ......... MON and Bruce did the lad no favours at all.

http://www.not606.com/showthread.php/243067-What-a-massive-January-for-SAFC/page2

 

If we are going to use Wickham, then for me he has to start and have a run of games. 15min cameos off the bench are no good for him. He's on fire now and playing in a team full of confidence, creating plenty of chances and scoring plenty of goals. It's the best chance he will have now to establish himself at the club.

 

This. Him and Jozy could be a handful for their defence today.

 

South American players usually take the longest to settle in, IMO. Reckon he will be getting drilled in our style of play and tactics, watching from the bench to see the speed of the game. Don't think he will start for another 4 or 5 games yet.

 

Hopefully mate and Jozy should be busting a gut to score against them today.

 

He better, I've got money on it seriously though he should be looking to capitalise on last weeks performance where he was brilliant, he upped his game and showed us what he can do, now just add a goal and his confidence will be sky high.

Fletcher is out for a few weeks and by the sounds of it Scocco isn't fit enough to start so we need the other lads to step up. Jozy get your shooting boots out lad.