New signee Mason Burstow and a fully recovered Patrick Roberts are expected to be included in Sunderland’s squad for their trip to QPR this weekend. Burstow, on loan from Chelsea, joined the Black Cats on transfer deadline day but was too late to play in the 5-0 triumph over Southampton less than 24 hours later.
And Roberts missed the game against the Saints as well as the preceding meeting at Coventry City due to a hamstring injury sustained in the win against Rotherham United last month. Both, though, will travel to West London as Sunderland attempt to start up where they left off before the international break.
“Patrick has been training the last few days – he looks fine, gr,” stated manager Tony Mowbray.
umbling away like he does normally! You know my thoughts on Patrick, he is a special footballer. There are parts of his overall package that he needs to keep working on and improving, but he is a very, very, talented footballer.”
And Mowbray said 20-year-old Burstow has impressed in training, and is pushing to be involved against QPR. “He’s a really nice, humble boy,” said Mowbray.
“To be honest, I think the balls were getting net rash the first day he trained! He didn’t miss, everything was flying in.
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“He looks exciting. He’s a nice humble, almost shy, kid but he just kept smashing it into the net.
“That’s not meant to put pressure on him, but in that first training session, he must have scored 50 goals in an hour’s training.”
Another of Sunderland’s deadline day captures, Ukrainian striker Nazariy Rusyn, is also expected to be in the group that travels to London but he is still waiting for a visa and unless that comes through in time, he will be restricted to no more than a watching brief. Mowbray said: “We’re still working on visas and things like that at the moment.
“As I sit here right now, he’s not available. He might be tomorrow, I’m not sure, but he looks exciting.
“He looks fast and direct, but as any manager will tell you about a new signing, especially one who doesn’t speak the language, we just have to give him time. They have to be bedded in, and we shouldn’t be expecting too much, too early from a young lad who’s away from home.
“Let’s give him some time and be patient with him, but he looks a good footballer and, at some stage in the next couple of weeks, he’ll hopefully impact the games.”
Rusyn missed a handful of games for his last club Zorya Luhansk due to injury before joining Wearside, and while he is currently fit, he is unlikely to start against QPR even if his visa is approved in time. “I don’t think he’s played a game in three weeks,” Mowbray added, “so I don’t think anybody should expect to see his name in the starting lineup this weekend.”
“Whether he gets his visa or not, we’re taking him to London.” It’s appropriate that he travels with the team and interacts with the players.
“He’ll have to stand on a chair and sing a song for his initiation – maybe we’ll get the Ukrainian national anthem, but I’m not sure!”