Watmore managed 45 minutes for Sunderland in the Checkatrade Trophy.
Sunderland ran out 4-0 winners over Newcastle United’s Under-21 side on Tuesday evening in the last 16 of the Checktrade Trophy at the Stadium of Light – but fans were unimpressed with captain-for-the-night Duncan Watmore.
Newcastle fans came out to support their reserve side in the last 16 of the competition against bitter Wearside rivals Sunderland, with 2,800 Toon fans turning up.
But it was not to be for the Premier League outfit’s second string, with a Kelland Watts own goal giving Sunderland the lead before Charlie Wyke, Chris Maguire and Benjamin Mbunga-Kimpioka got their names on the score sheet.
However, it was not a night for 24-year-old Watmore, who continues to build up his match fitness after recovering from a second anterior cruciate ligament injury. He made his comeback in December, playing seven times – starting three of those.
The versatile attacker was hooked at half-time by manager Jack Ross, with the Sunderland gaffer stating after the match that Watmore had suffered a groin strain. But the likelihood is, is that he would have taken Watmore off anyway.
The England Under-21 international struggled throughout despite being given the captain’s armband by Ross, failing to make anything stick. The groin injury adds salt to the wounds.
Sunderland fans reacted to Watmore’s display on Twitter after beating Newcastle’s reserves 4-0, and some believe he could be nearing the end at the Stadium of Light.
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