mavrias keen to impress

CHARIS Mavrias says he is desperate to make this his breakthrough season at Sunderland.


And after being involved in the club’s opening friendly against Darlington 1883 at the weekend, the young Greek hopes he will be given more chances to shine in the games against Carlisle tonight and Hartlepool tomorrow.

“I cannot complain about last season, though I would have liked to played more,” he told the Echo.

“I did manage to play first-team football and I did score a goal but I was still very new here - it was my first season in England, my first season in the Premier League.

“So in this coming season I would like to think I could do much more.”

Mavrias was one of the dozen signings made by former Director of Football Roberto Di Fanti in what proved to be a fatally flawed recruitment process last summer

Of all the permanent signings overseen by the Italian ex-scout, only Vito Mannone really proved a success last season.

The likes of key signings Cabral and Modibo Diakite barely featured, while big money signing Jozy Altidore failed to fire and Valentin Roberge and Emanuele Giaccherini were unable to nail down regular first-team places.

But while De Fanti was rightly sacked on the back of a disastrous transfer window, Mavrias is determined to prove he should not be numbered among the flops.

A Greek Under 21 regular, Mavrias made half-a-dozen first-team appearances for the Black Cats last season, the highlight of which was undoubtedly scoring the match-winner against Kidderminster Harriers in the FA Cup.

Now he plans to push for a place in the first-team squad this season as a reinforcement on the wing.

“That is my hope,” he said.

“For the moment I am just happy to be back at Sunderland and still in with a chance of a future here.

“Now I have a season at the club, I feel settled and happy and I want to succeed here.

“I am only 20-years-old and I am continuing to improve.

“I learned a lot last season and I think I can build on that this season.”

He was deployed at right-back in the opening friendly against Darlington at the weekend because of the club’s shortage of options in that position but still managed to put in crosses regularly and even have a shot at goal.

“It was good education to be playing at right-back because wingers need to defend too!” he smiled.

“But I was glad to be able to get crosses in and I was going to go for goal at any stage if the chance appeared.

“It’s all about trying to show the manager what you can do.

“I was happy with how I played against Darlington and hopefully I will get a chance to play again with games coming up now against Carlisle and Hartlepool.”

 

Good attitude.

 

Good on him

 

Hope he steps up as we've currently no wide cover of quality what so ever. One injury to Giacc or AJ and our whole attack loses it's balance and we'll struggle for goals.

 

Thought he done ok on Saturday, and only 20 years old. Might struggle with a starting place with platers ahead of him but think he will be a good squad player.

 

Really like the lad, watched the extended highlights put on her last night and closely watched him and N'Daiye. I know its lower league opposition but i thought they both did very well, would like to see them playing again soon as i believe both have a lot to offer us. Hoping that Watmore will have a small role with the first team this year too

 

Came here highly rated, hope to see him & Watmore regularly part of the squad. Saves us having to buy a winger