Sunderland finished the group-stages with a win over Notts County.
Sunderland coach Robbie Stockdale has praised the performance of Jason Denayer after the defender was deployed in midfield for the under-23 side’s EFL Trophy win over Notts County, the Shields Gazette reports.
The 21-year-old has struggled to establish himself in David Moyes’ side this term, but played the full 90 minutes as the Black Cats completed their group-stage campaign with a 2-1 win at the Stadium of Light.
Tottenham’s Son Heung-min in action with Sunderland’s Jason Denayer
And it appears that he may be set for a run in the middle of the park for the first-team after Stockdale insisted that it was always the intention to use the Belgian slightly further up the pitch.
“Jason, in midfield, was something we wanted to look at,” he said, as reported by the Shields Gazette.
“He did fine in there.”
Tottenham’s Son Heung-min shoots at goal past the challenge of Sunderland’s Jason Denayer
Though Sunderland’s first-team went into the international break on a high after securing their first Premier League win of the season in their most recent game, they still have a huge task ahead of them if they hope to get themselves out of trouble.
And while many supporters will be looking to the January transfer window as a pivotal moment in the club’s campaign, Moyes may be looking to change things around with the squad that he currently has available.
The Daily Mirror reported at the start of the month that Moyes had been left disappointed with Sunderland vice-captain Lee Cattermole due to the lack of leadership he had shown throughout the campaign, so perhaps Denayer’s move into the middle is designed to either allow for Cattermole to be dropped or to be given another rival to push him to improve.
Sunderland manager David Moyes
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
