The compliments Tony Mowbray gave Sunderland’s new leaders

The compliments Tony Mowbray gave Sunderland’s new leaders.

 

With Ross Stewart out of the picture and club captain Corry Evans sidelined for an extended period of time, Tony Mowbray claims his youthful Sunderland players have “stepped up” and taken up the leadership role.

After missing the whole second half of the previous season, Stewart—a highly prominent member of the Sunderland dressing room—left for Southampton in the summer, while Evans hasn’t played for the club since sustaining a catastrophic knee injury in January.

A very inexperienced Sunderland team was left behind when players like Bailey Wright and Danny Batth left in the summer.

On five occasions this season Sunderland have named a starting line-up with an average age below 23 – the only team in the Championship to have done so. However, despite the lack of experience in the ranks, Mowbray has seen leaders emerge and is the proud of the manner in which his side are “growing together”.

With Luke O’Nien missing the win over Birmingham City last weekend, Dan Neil – who is just 21 – captained Sunderland. He has helped to fill the leadership void – but he’s not the only one.

“I think they’ve had to step up, the club captain has been injured for a long time now, never mind Ross Stewart (leaving),” says Mowbray.

“People have to step up. Dan Neil I think has stepped up amazingly well on the pitch. He’s so much more vocal now. He was a quiet lad when I came in and was probably happy to be in the team, even though he played in League One a fair bit.

“We’re trying to grow them, we’re trying to sprinkle water on them and make them flower really and when a void is created by somebody leaving, somebody has to fill it.

“A few players are present. While Dan Neil is developing quickly and gaining influence on the field, I believe Trai Hume has the potential to be a fantastic leader in the future.

To be fair, Jack Clarke has a strong personality, which he supports with his skill on the field. Luke O’Nien, who has assumed the captaincy, is not your usual football player; he is a different kind of person. He’s a scholar, deeply contemplative, and always comes to my door or Kristjaan’s (Speakman’s) door to talk.

“I think they’re growing together is what I’m trying to say, nobody has come in and grabbed it.”

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