Tony Mowbray has told Alex Pritchard his patience will be rewarded as the fit-again midfielder waits for a starting chance. Pritchard has not started a game since before Christmas, with a calf injury ruling him out for a couple of weeks and then when he attempted a return at the end of December he suffered a recurrence within minutes of entering the action as a substitute.
But he has been eased back into action this week, playing a little under half-an-hour of Sunderland's Championship draw at Millwall last weekend and then a similar chunk of the midweek FA Cup fourth round replay against Fulham on Wearside. Before his injury the 29-year-old was a key component in the Sunderland side, with his experience and footballing knowhow helping settle a team largely composed of players in their early 20s.
And he made a near-instant impact upon his return last weekend, providing the set-piece that led to Dennis Cirkin's equaliser at The Den. The next step for Pritchard is to win back his place in the starting XI but that will not be easy with Patrick Roberts, Amad, and Jack Clarke all currently in form.
