Sunderland's Duncan Watmore looking forward to striking a partnership with Charlie Wyke; Duncan Watmore and Charlie Wyke are both making their way back to fitness after knee injuries, and have the attributes to be a great combination.
Byline: Stuart Rayner
Duncan Watmore can already see the makings of a good partnership as he and Charlie Wyke make their returns from knee injuries.
The speedyWatmoreis looking forward to linking with targetman Wyke to continue the feel-good factor around the Stadium of Light.
The pair were substitutes in the 1-0 Boxing Day win over Bradford City. It was Watmore's fifth appearance since injuring his anterior cruciate knee ligaments for the second time, and Wyke's first since re-injuring his knee at Burton Albion in mid-September.
Manager Jack Rossis determined to take it steadily with both, but happy to talk up the impact they can have in the second half of the season. Iftop-scorer Josh Majawas sold in January, they could be even more important.
"I enjoy playing with him, even just in training," said Watmore, who has exclusively been used at centre-forward by Ross. "From what I've seen of him he looks a really good player and I just said to him, as soon as he goes up in the air I'm thinking, 'Get on the end of this.' I'm looking forward to playing with him.
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"I feel like at this moment in time, I probably don't have the match-fitness and sharpness to maintain that from the start. That's something I'm going to have to get used to and when the manager wants me to start that's a challenge I'll have to overcome.
"At the moment I feel like I can have a really positive impact coming off the bench."
Ross' preferred formation is 4-2-3-1, but he has used two up front on occasions this season, despite few attacking options. Thirteen-goal Maja has been a regular, and Chris Maguire can appear as a second striker or "false nine", while Lynden Gooch can play off a frontman but has been used more from deeper positions. On-loan Jerome Sinclair is an out-and-out striker, but is yet to really come to terms with League One football.
Maja is out of contract at the end of the season and unless he signs a new deal before the transfer window reopens on Tuesday, his club will have a decision to make on whether to cash in now, or take a small compensation payment in the summer. Ross has already said he expects clarity soon.
Sunderland vs Shrewsbury
That uncertainty apart, the Stadium of Light mood has been extremely positive, with Saturday's...
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