Sunderland let midfield battle commence - with or without Luke O'Nien; The competition for places in the Black Cats' engine room is fierce, and could mean Luke O'Nien can forget about playing his specialist position.
Byline: Stuart Rayner
When managers talk about competition for places, Sunderland's midfield is an example of how it is supposed to work.
Summer signing George Dobson started the season in the Black Cats' engine room, and was one of their better performers in the 1-1 draws withOxford UnitedandIpswich Town. Since then, he has barely had a kick.
Max Power and captain Grant Leadbitter, the men in possession during three consecutive victories which have kick-started the campaign, know that if their standards drop just a fraction, they will be back on the bench -- at best. Both will be nervous when manager Jack Ross names his team to face Wimbledon on Saturday. As Dobson can testify, even performing well is no guarantee.
Dylan McGeouch, who paid the price for a poor game at Portman Road, was crucial in helping close outTuesday's 2-1 victory at Rochdale, and Elliot Embleton's versatility means he can do a job there, though he has so far been used slightly higher up the field. Injury has so far prevented Ethan Robson, a player Ross thinks a great deal of, from staking his claim, but the time will come.
George Dobson's big club education continues on Tuesday as his rivals look to ramp up pressure
All of this from a midfield which shed its most experienced player, Lee Cattermole, and its captain, George Honeyman, this summer.
Never having played football this far north or at such a big club and still only 21, Sunderland were expecting Dobson to be a slow-burner, as Luke O'Nien was 12 months earlier, but he has quickly brought new energy to a midfield which for all its other qualities lacked that at times last season.
"When he came to the club, we brought him knowing he was still very young, and a bit like Luke, we thought he would grow with us," Ross explains. "He probably hit the ground running in terms of the games, but I think he's still adjusting to the training a bit and the demands and intensity of that.
"What we've managed to get is really good competition for places. Grant and Max have come in and played a part in winning games, and of course players recognise that.
"I've been pleased with that competition for places so far, and there's not that many players this season that haven't done well when they've had the opportunity. Long may that continue. And if they're winning games, it helps a bit with that continuity of selection."
Power impressed in the wins overAccrington StanleyandPortsmouth, but substituting him for McGeouch was crucial at...
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