Elliott Dickman says Lynden Gooch frustrated with lack of first-team chances

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Lynden Gooch featured for Sunderland Under-23 side against their Newcastle United counterparts this week.

Sunderland Under-23 manager Elliott Dickman has admitted to The Sunderland Echo that Lynden Gooch is frustrated at not playing for the first team in recent weeks.

Gooch has not featured for the Sunderland senior side since the end of January due to first-team regulars returning from injury.

The 22-year-old midfielder played well for the Black Cats against the Newcastle United youngsters in the Premier League International Cup quarter-finals this week.

While praising Gooch for his performance, Dickman admitted that the youngster is frustrated at his lack of chances for the first team.

Dickman told The Sunderland Echo: “Lynden did great. He’s maybe a bit frustrated that he isn’t in the first team but he’s shown that he’s capable of doing a job, but it’s difficult to get into the first team.

“At the end of the day the manager picks the team that he thinks is right for whatever game is there. From our perspective, he did well for us.”

First-team frustration

Gooch is a talented and promising young midfielder, but the youngster has made only a handful of appearances for the Sunderland first team so far in his career.

The USA international made eight starts and 12 substitute appearances for the Sunderland first team so far this season.

It is clear that Sunderland manager Chris Coleman thinks that Gooch is good enough for the first team.

What the youngster needs to do is play well for the Under-23 team, and the chance to play for the senior side will present itself soon.