Dan Neil’s absence this weekend has Tony Mowbray feeling upbeat.
The Sunderland manager suggested it could be ‘beneficial’ for the midfielder to skip the trip to Stoke City during his pre-game press conference.
Up until his contentious red card against Middlesbrough, Dan Neil had started each of Sunderland’s eleven Championship games this season and had been an important performer.
The midfielder will not be available for the tense reunion with Alex Neil since he received a second yellow card shortly before halftime for foul language and must now serve a one-match suspension.
Mowbray has argued that the 21-year-old might potentially profit by Sunderland’s limited choices to replace Neil’s gap at the bet365 Stadium.
Mowbray told the journalists, “I spoke to him today, looking forward to a rest.
It’s advantageous for him that he has a three-game week. A young player should occasionally relax, kick back, and watch football in order to be prepared for when he will be needed three days from now.
Next week, Sunderland will play Leicester City in one of their hardest tests to date in the Midlands before traveling back to Wearside to welcome Norwich four days later.
Will Pierre Ekwah be able to replace Dan Neil?
Dan Neil, who has already contributed two goals and two assists while putting on some fantastic performances, will be a major loss to Sunderland this weekend.
The Black Cats will be hoping Pierre Ekwah is healthy enough to compete, since it appears that the only replacement who can match the caliber of his teammate is the Frenchman. Due to their lack of defensive midfielders, Sunderland doesn’t want to arrive to Stoke looking as vulnerable as they did against Boro.
The encounter at the Stadium of Light earlier this year ended disastrously, so Sunderland shouldn’t get too worked up about facing Alex Neil this weekend.
Let’s just secure a convincing three points, warmly re-join Dan Neil, and then go on to Leicester!
