Sunderland have recently seen one of their youngsters step up… just like Jamaal Lascelles did for Newcastle United.
Simon Grayson may just have found Sunderland’s version of Newcastle United’s Jamaal Lascelles, following his side’s defeat to Ipswich Town.
Lascelles famously lambasted Newcastle’s team in the dressing room, during the 2015/16 campaign, when the Magpies were relegated from the Premier League.
At the time, Lascelles was an inexperienced player – but his dressing room outburst caused Rafael Benitez to hand the centre-back the captain’s armband.
Lascelles then went on to lead Newcastle to promotion from the Championship last season, and he has continued to impress at the top level this time around.
Sunderland are in dire need for some of their players to step up and take a leadership role, with the Black Cats badly struggling.
And it seems that Grayson may just have found an unlikely source of inspiration for his team, as one of Sunderland’s players was heard berating his teammates following their midweek defeat at Portman Road.
“I went in the dressing room [after the game] and you hear a 22-year-old saying ‘we’re soft as…’,” Grayson said to Sunderland’s official website.
“And he’s right. We’re too easy to play against and we have to make sure the opposition don’t get an easy ride – have we had an easy ride against anyone this year, no because they stop you from playing and do the ugly side of the game.
Whether the Sunderland’s youngster’s words will spark his side into life remains to be seen.
But Grayson will be hoping that the words have had some impact, as Sunderland simply cannot afford to waste much more time searching for the winning formula.
Sunderland are currently in 22nd position in the Championship table, with their next match coming against Preston North End.
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