Tony Mowbray admits his decision to send Alex Pritchard on as a substitute at Wigan Athletic backfired, with the midfielder limping off only five minutes later. Pritchard has been out of action since mid-December with a calf injury, but recently returned to training and was passed fit to be included on the Sunderland bench at the DW Stadium.
He made his comeback as a 62nd minute sub in last night's 4-1 win against the Latics, but the problem flared up again almost immediately and he was replaced by Jay Matete in the 68th minute. "We're really disappointed over Pritch," said Mowbray.
"We'll have to assess whether it was right that he went onto the pitch, yet he had trained for a good few days and was really confident, ready and champing at the bit. That's a real frustration for us, of course.
READ MORE: Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray details his first-half frustration on way to big win at Wigan
"It's a calf injury. He's done his calf. He's been training for the last four or five days with the team, and maybe a week before that, and has been fine.
"He was champing at the bit to come with us this week and get on the pitch, and yet as soon as he pushed off, he felt it. He's a bit down in there [the dressing room], but he'll be fine."
Mowbray made five changes against Wigan and, aside from the alterations forced upon him by injuries to Lynden Gooch and Dennis Cirkin, he took star striker Ross Stewart, captain Corry Evans, and creative spark Patrick Roberts out of the team. Stewart began on the bench to avoid taking any risks over his fitness given that his start against Blackburn Rovers on Boxing Day was his first start after three-and-a-half months out with a thigh injury, while a change of system to 3-5-2 meant Roberts was squeezed out.
But Stewart's replacement Simms scored the opening goal in the rout, before Stewart and Roberts came on with the latter winning a penalty that was converted by the former. And Roberts also went on to score himself, and provide the assist for the fourth goal for Amad.
Mowbray said: "I had one or two conversations with players this week. I think Ross thinks every time he goes on the pitch he's going to score, and to be honest, that looks like being the case at the minute.
"I try to make decisions for the team, but also for the player, and I don't think after being out for three-and-a-half months that he can come back and play three games in a week and think it's going to be okay. I made that decision and Ellis scored and did really well.
"Then, Ross comes on and scores as well, so that's great for the football club."
Of Roberts he added: "With the injuries I felt that the only shape to keep players in positions they know was to go with a back three - and that is why Patrick came out of the team. It was harsh on him because when he plays with Amad it's quite amazing to watch really.
"It must be frustrating to play against, too. It's my job to get them on the pitch at the same time but it might not always be from the start."
Midfielder Evans was not on the bench but Mowbray revealed he was only rested, and is likely to be back in contention for Sunday's trip to Blackpool. He said: "Corry isn't really injured, he's just got a bit of muscle fatigue.
"He's done 11,500 metres and broken his own record of distance covered in the last couple of games. He needed a break, and I felt as though we could get through this game without his experience.
"Thankfully, we did, but I'm pretty sure he'll be back at the weekend."
Mowbray also held out the possibility that centre-back Danny Batth could be fit to return from a calf problem at Blackpool, and both Gooch and Cirkin also have a chance of making that game. He said: "Danny Batth might be joining the party in the next few days, we'll have to wait and see, Dennis Cirkin might rejoin the party in the next few days.
"It would help, but Luke [O'Nien], Danny [Ballard] and Bailey [Wright] were really good at Wigan, and Trai Hume deserves a mention because he was really good too."
Sunderland's win in their final game of 2022 lifted them to fourth place in the table, although it remains to be seen whether they will be there come the turn of the year as there are more Championship fixtures this evening.
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