Jack Ross comments on changing Bryan Oviedo’s position at Sunderland

Follow us on Google Discover

Sunderland are utilising Bryan Oviedo further forward as a winger.

Sunderland boss Jack Ross has told the Sunderland Echo that he was watching footage of past Everton games in order to see how Bryan Oviedo could fare as a winger.

Oviedo, 28, has mostly been a left back during his time in England, and it looked like he would end up leaving Sunderland as Reece James and Denver Hume emerged as the top left backs for Ross.

However, Costa Rican international Oviedo was thrown on against Wycome Wanderers as a winger, and was started in that role during Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Walsall.

Oviedo was hooked after 49 minutes, and it remains to be seen whether he continues in that role moving forward, starting with tonight’s clash with fellow promotion chasers Barnsley.

Ahead of tonight’s game, Ross has discussed Oviedo’s new role – and admitted that he has been watching old footage of Everton in order to help Sunderland make a decision about Oviedo.

Oviedo joined Everton from FC Copenhagen in 2012 and started out as a winger, before eventually making his way back to play as a left back behind Leighton Baines.

Ross has now admitted that he still sees Oviedo as a left back but used footage of Everton to show that he can play further forward for Sunderland, becoming more of an asset for the club.

“I watched quite a lot of stuff with Lynden and Bryan, particularly when he first came to England with Everton,” said Ross. “We had some conversations and did some work in training on Thursday. I still see him as competing for that left-back position. But I think that rather than seeing him then as not an option for you at any point because he’s a left-back, I wanted to come away from that.”

“It’s not making him into something he’s not because as I mentioned, he did it a lot for Everton. What he gives going forward from full-back has arguably been his strength as well. I’m sure he will play him higher up again, he’s undoubtedly got the capabilities to do it,” he added.