Trai Hume's patience is being rewarded with Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray insisting the young full-back has grabbed his opportunity with both hands. Mowbray said earlier in the season that Nothern Ireland international Hume had knocked on his door more than once, frustrated at his lack of first-team outings.
But with Lynden Gooch established in the right-back role, and with either Dennis Cirkin or Aji Alese playing on the left, there was no room for him in the side. However more recently injuries have opened the door for the 20-year-old, and he has started each of Sunderland's last five games in all competitions and has made a good impression on the head coach.
"Trai's had the opportunity," said Mowbray, whose side lost 3-1 at home to Swansea City yesterday after playing for more than three-quarters of the game with ten men. "Trai was very often in my office when he wasn't playing, wanting a chance.
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"I just told him that he would have to be patient and wait for an opportunity. The team was functioning pretty well without him, when Gooch and Cirkin were playing or maybe Aji was fit.
"But injuries have given him an opportunity and he has grabbed it with both hands. He's very talented and very strong and his passing is good - he looks like a really, really, good full-back."
Hume has most often played at right-back for the Black Cats, but against Swansea City he started on the right before switching with Gooch and moving to the left. Hume joined Sunderland from Linfield in the January transfer window 12 months ago, and has made 14 appearances for the club so far.
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