Lynden Gooch's versatility has seen him fill gaps all over the park for Sunderland - but boss Alex Neil has outlined where he sees Gooch's future. At different times in his eight-year career on Wearside, Gooch has operated up front, as a number ten, on the left wing, on the right wing, in central midfield, in both full-back roles, and in both wingback roles.
His adaptability has made him a favourite with a long list of managers, even though for Gooch at times the frequent chopping and changing of position has made it difficult for him to get a run of games in one role and produce his best form. But since Neil took over at Sunderland in February, he has narrowed things down and tended to play Gooch on the right, albeit sometimes at full-back, sometimes at wingback, and sometimes on the wing.
Asked about where he sees Gooch playing in the coming Championship season, Neil said: "He's played in a similar role for pretty much all of last season, so I think it's normal for him. Under me, he played either right back, right wing back or right wing.
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"At some point [in Sunderland's 2-0 friendly defeat at Bradford City on Tuesday night], he's played all three of those roles. That's what he is, he covers off that right side up and down the flanks."
Another player who is capable of playing in multiple roles is Carl Winchester, who joined Sunderland as a midfielder but played many games last season at right-back - and some as the right-sided centre-back in a back three. Neil said: "Similarly with Carl, on Tuesday he has played right back and right-sided central defender which he did for me last season.
"I think he is really comfortable in a three, because he can defend one-vs-one. I think centre back in a two is probably the position he is least comfortable in. Right back or the right of a three, I think he is very comfortable there."
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