Lewis Morgan is yet to make an impact after arriving at League One Sunderland from Scottish Premiership champions Celtic in January.
Jack Ross has given his backing to January signing Lewis Morgan despite his sluggish start to life at Sunderland, while speaking to the Northern Echo.
The Scotland international winger moved to the Stadium of Light on loan from Celtic in the January transfer window and big things were expected of him, given that he had shone under Jack Ross at St Mirren last season.
It was Morgan’s 18 league goals that fired the Buddies back to the top flight after all.
But he has yet to make an impact under Ross south of the border, failing to register a goal or an assist in five League One games. Nonetheless, the manager has taken the time to single out Morgan for praise ahead of Saturday’s clash with Plymouth Argyle.
“I was pleased with his debut and I spoke to him about a couple of things because he wants to play and he’ll back himself but we’ve got a lot of good competition for places in those kind of positions,” said Ross.
“How he came on and played in Bristol, he was lively and positive and he showed what he’s good at, which is travelling with the ball.
“He’s arguably quicker with it than without it so it was good for him to get back to that level and just give another insight into what he can bring to us. Then he pushes to start games, which is what he wants to do because he’s a young man that’s got that belief in himself.”
Brendan Rodgers was the man who brought Morgan to Celtic in 2018 but, now he has left for Leicester City, it seems the attacker’s future is up in the air beyond this season.
If Ross wants to keep Morgan at Sunderland on a permanent basis, there may be an opportunity to do just that. But he will need to step things up and prove that he can make an impact in the English game, with Sunderland eyeing an immediate return to the Championship.
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