Jason Denayer has admitted he found it hard to take at first after Roberto Martinez left him out of the Belgium squad because Sunderland have barely used him at centre-back this season. The 21-year-old joined the Black Cats on a season-long loan from Manchester City. The Wearsiders are the third club to have borrowed Denayer and he admits the constant disruption is not helping him. Denayer’s more immediate concern, though, is getting a game at Sunderland. He is yet to start in the centre of defence for the Black Cats, although he did move into a back three in the second half of Saturday’s 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion, and the formation appeared to suit Sunderland better. Denayer had looked ill at ease at left-back. please log in to view this image His other two starts came at right-back, and he has been used as a substitute once. It has cost him his place in the squad for World Cup qualifiers against Bosnia (home) and Gibraltar (away). “Mr Martinez (Belgium coach Roberto) has given me an explanation, yes,” said Denayer. “He told me that I have not played my position too many matches in my club, so he did not find it ideal to name me in the squad. In the beginning I had difficulty with that decision.” Lamine Kone and Papy Djilobodi were David Moyes’ first-choice central defensive partnership at the start of the season but when the latter was dropped against West Brom, it was the experience of club captain John O’Shea the Scot turned to. Three years after joining them, Denayer is yet to play for Manchester City, but has had spells with Galatasaray and Celtic, where he was named young player of the year by the Scottish PFA. “(Pep) Guardiola told me that he thinks I’m an interesting player,” said the man who played against Wales at Euro 2016. “But I could not count on a lot of playing time and that I would be better loaned out.
He's only going to work in a back 3, or as one of 2 CBs. He's not full-back, that's for sure. And playing him there will only smash his confidence I'd imagine.
You'd have to imagine that if he doesn't play then City would prefer him back with them or loaned elsewhere?
Is the wrier of this for real - "It has cost him his place in the squad for World Cup qualifiers against Bosnia (home) and Gibraltar (away)." Surely the fact that he hasn't looked particularly assured in the games he's played may have cost him his place? Not the fact that he's played out of position - or would Martinez rather he was getting reserve game time at best for City?
If its to be a back three, its a straight choice between him and Papy alongside JOS and Kone. We look diss-organised at the back this season and the summer arrivals have not compensated for the departures. With our lack of choice in the full back positions, and the need of some support for Defoe up front a 3/2/3/2 looks like the best bet for me atm.
