Carl Winchester insists he will 'do anything' and 'play anywhere' to help Sunderland achieve promotion. Winchester has been one of the Black Cats' stand-out players in his first full season at the club, and has demonstrated that Luke O'Nien is not the only player in the squad capable of fulfilling multiple roles.
The Northern Irishman joined from League Two Forest Green Rovers in January last year as a midfielder, but this term he has played the majority of his football at right-back, occasionally at right wingback, and most recently under new boss Alex Neil as a right-sided centre-back. That kind of flexibility is highly prized by managers and coaches, allowing them to make changes to shape and system from game-to-game with fewer personnel changes, and also on the fly during games without needing to bring on specialist substitutes.
For Winchester, it has meant he has been one of the first names on the teamsheet with his 38 league starts bettered only by the ever-present Ross Stewart. "It's been quite a season for me, to play as many games as I have for a club like this," said Winchester.
