Tony Mowbray sends message to fringe player at Sunderland as January transfer window approaches | OneFootball

Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray has told Leon Dajaku that there will still be opportunities for the winger at the club.

Dajaku has found his game time limited somewhat this season, and competition for places is rising significantly now that both Ross Stewart and Ellis Simms have made successful returns from injury.

The winger was an absentee from Sunderland’s squad that beat Blackburn Rovers 2-1 on Boxing Day. However, Dajaku will travel with the squad to the North West as the Black Cats prepare to face Wigan Athletic and Blackpool in quick succession.

Mowbray has now hinted that the winger is likely to return to the squad at some stage, after admitting he’s been left impressed with his attitude in training.

The Sunderland boss has now urged Dajaku to be ready to take his opportunity if it comes along, but says the door is open if the youngster wants to consider a January move.

He told Sunderland Echo: “I like Leon, he works really hard. It’s a difficult scenario for me in terms of where I fit him into the structure [of the team].

“If you’re playing with Clarke and Roberts, Simms down the middle – where do you fit him in? I think he could play anywhere across the frontline; he needs an opportunity and there hasn’t been one. I suppose.. in the days without Stewart and Simms I played more tens and eights rather than going with Leon [most of the time] who is more of a nine or wide striker, whose strength is his running power and getting in behind, he’s got a rocket of a right foot when he gets the ball onto it.

“We decided to go with more technical players to be able to link the play with midfield really – he’s probably been unfortunate.

“Regarding his future, every player knows my door is always open if they’re disappointed, whether it be Leon or anyone else. He will be disappointed that he wasn’t in the 18 the other day but there’s every chance he will be back in there. I do try and rotate, I try to integrate everyone and keep them invested in the team.

“I try to keep them invested, to work hard and do the extra work, so that they are ready for an opportunity. If you get on the pitch you need to be ready, you can’t say, ‘well I haven’t played for while’. Leon falls into that category, I like him because of his work ethic and hopefully when the chance comes he bangs one in the back of the net and this is a very different conversation.

“Hopefully he can get some opportunities over the next few days.”

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Dajaku has found himself down the pecking order at Sunderland, with players like Patrick Roberts, Jack Clarke, Jewison Bennette, and Amad Diallo all preferred so far under Mowbray.

The 21-year-old featured quite regularly last season in League One, playing 22 times as the Wearsiders gained promotion to the Championship.

However, as there’s been a change of manager and a new league, Dajaku has found himself on the sidelines a lot more, and with January possibly seeing more arrivals through the door, the 21-year-old may need to assess his options.

The January transfer window may just be the ideal chance for Sunderland to allow Dajaku to leave on a temporary basis for the remainder of the season before reassessing in the summer.