John O’Shea’s injury highlights further the shortage of players available for Sunderland right now.
Sunderland’s Vito Mannone looks dejected after Middlesbrough’s Christian Stuani (not pictured) scores their second goal
Sunderland goalkeeper Vito Mannone hopes that manager David Moyes will ‘address’ the situation the club currently have at centre-back following the weekend’s defeat to Middlesbrough.
The Black Cats have a remarkable shortage of players at the heart of their defence, which was compounded when John O’Shea limped off as they started the season with back-to-back defeats.
Sunderland’s John O’Shea receives medical attention as Middlesbrough’s Alvaro Negredo looks on
Younes Kaboul recently left the club for Watford while Lamine Kone is seemingly banished from the first team – which leaves a significant shortage at the back.
Mannone is quoted in the Sunderland Echo, saying: “Hopefully, the manager will look into and address the situation, have something solid at the back.”
Jack Rodwell filled in at centre-back after O’Shea was substituted – with Mannone saying he did ‘OK’ in the position alongside new signing Papy Djilobodji.
Sunderland manager David Moyes
Given the start to the campaign Sunderland have had, there are worries that another relegation battle could be on their hands this season – with their manager David Moyes admitting it in a post-match press conference, according to Sky Sports. They are without a point from their opening two games, and short of players in several areas.
There is clearly a need to spend money and add players to the squad between now and the end of the transfer window but they are going to have to start picking up some solid results pretty quickly in order for that sense of de ja vu to prove unfounded for the rest of the season.
Sunderland manager David Moyes before the match
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