Sunderland currently have nine players out on loan; some with the view to a permanent move, and some with a view to gaining valuable first team experience to help them compete for a place in the Sunderland first team squad in the future. Out of the nine out on loan, only three players saw action during this round of fixtures, with only one involved in a victory.
The players currently on loan are:
Jordan Pickford – Preston North End
Mikael Mandron – Hartlepool United
Martin Smith and George Honeyman– Gateshead
Emanuele Giaccherini – Bologna
Santiago Vergini – Getafe
Liam Bridcutt – Leeds United
Jordan Blinco and Dylan McEvoy – Boston United
Liam Bridcutt played the full 90 minutes for Leeds United as they drew 0-0 at Charlton Athletic. With regards to Bridcutt’s loan situation, Sunderland manager, Sam Allardyce, said, “It’d be a better option for him and us if we could sell him, no doubt about that. Certainly his career needs to get back on track and, realistically, his career is not at Leeds and not here. If Brighton are interested in taking him back, where he had such a good career, then it would be better for us all if that was the case. The more finance I create, the more able and capable I am to recruit in January.”
Jordan Pickford kept another clean sheet as Preston North End beat Reading 1-0 at Deepdale. Pickford has now kept 12 clean sheets this season. Preston manager, Simon Grayson, was quoted after the match, commenting that, “The goalkeeper and the defence will get credit – they always do – but ultimately the lads in front of them also work hard for the team, limiting them to positions where they could fashion very few opportunities. They are nice ingredients to have, because if you keep clean sheets you have a chance of winning football matches,” he added.”
Pickford’s fine form for Preston could prove a problem for Preston as Sam Allardyce is keeping a close eye on the keeper, as he is developing into a great asset. Vito Mannone is rumoured to want to leave due to lack of first team action and, in Pickford, Sunderland could have a quality back up to current number one, Costel Pantilimon, and a back-up that could push him very close for a place in the starting 11.“We have spoken to Vito and he wants to be playing first team football and he is not getting that here. His contract expires at the end of the season and he may want to move out. I am thinking about Jordan Pickford coming back [from Preston]. He has been doing so well there and been out at so many places on loan, gaining a huge amount of experience. It might be time for us to bring him back to the club. That depends on how the goalkeeping situation lies, in particular with Vito.”
Mikael Mandron came on as a 75th-minute substitute for Hartlepool United, but failed to make an impact as they were thrashed 4-0 at Portsmouth. Hartlepool boss, Ronnie Moore, was not impressed with his side, “We never performed, we were never in the game really. The goals were given on a plate – self-destruct. We have to do the right things in the right areas, make the right decisions and hopefully it works for you. Today it didn’t work for us.’’
Earlier in the week, the Hartlepool boss said this about Mandron, “I think Mikael has found out how tough it is, that Under 21 league is a boys league. This is a man’s game. I said to him that he’s had a rude awakening and he has to grow up.”
Emanuele Giaccherini was not in Bologna’s squad as they snatched a late winner to record a 1-0 victory away at Genoa. Meanwhile, Santiago Vergini was an unused substitute as Getafe drew 1-1 at home to Real Sociedad on Friday night.
Elsewhere, Gateshead were forced to call off their FA Trophy tie with Stocksbridge Park Steels due to a waterlogged pitch. The game will now take place on Tuesday 15th December at 7:45pm. Boston United did not have a game this weekend and will resume their league campaign against Stockport County on Saturday 19th December.
Main photo via Getty Images.
