Duncan Watmore has barely been seen in a Sunderland shirt in the last two years. The one time England Under 21 international has suffered from a succession of injuries which have hampered his promising career.
After battling back to fitness this season he was cruelly crocked by Wycombe’s Marcus Bean shortly after bagging a leveller against the Chairboys in March and sat out the rest of the season. He played 11 times in League One, just three of which were starts.
He’s likely to be available at the beginning of next season, but the Roker Report have posed the question; is he still a viable option for the Black Cats? as a relic from their Premier League days he is likely to be a big earner, certainly one of the better paid players at the club, does that mean he’s likely to be shown the door?
Or should he be given a chance to add to his 54 league outings in a Sunderland shirt? He’s started games in the Premier League, Championship and League One and perhaps with a run of appearances and some fitness, he could be a big player.
Here’s what a selection of Black Cats’ fans think about the situation on social media.
https://twitter.com/44stu/status/1137659345515274240
https://twitter.com/jamesSAFCmoore/status/1137696141070540801
https://twitter.com/Ianc1102/status/1137649346042900480
Lets see what a pre-season of training brings & take it from there. I know one thing, he’ll be itching to help us get out of this league & we can hardly hold that last tackle he received at WW against him, that would laid up anyone. It was a disgrace.
— Ian Harrison (@Hag_SAFC) June 9, 2019
https://twitter.com/cobrakaikungfu/status/1137653803807907840
Love him but plays like a school boy. Yes very ,quick but often runs in to a wall and final decision making leaves a lot to be desired. Let’s hope for a good pre season and an injury free run so we can see him reach his potential.
— kevin defty (@kevindefty1) June 9, 2019
He has to be given further time to recover. We have no other options anyway as no other club would touch him with a barge pole with his injury record. Still have faith in the lad!
— Stuart Wilson (@StuartW45463944) June 9, 2019
https://twitter.com/tmalbrghtn/status/1137647233300611072
There is no choice other than keep him, he only has 1 year left on his contract so any interested clubs will surely wait another season to see how his fitness is then step in and get him for nothing if he proves himself to be ok.