Sunderland boss Phil Parkinson has confirmed striker Charlie Wyke is back in contention for a place in tonight’s starting line-up to face Bristol Rovers.
The striker missed Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Gillingham through injury, a game in which his replacement Kyle Lafferty grabbed a brace.
It was Lafferty’s first start for the Black Cats after previously making nine appearances from the bench following his arrival at the Stadium of Light as a free agent in January and Sunderland fans lauded the thirty-two-year-old when they took to social media to respond to Wykes’s injury update on the club’s official website.
Lafferty undoubtedly made a good impression with supporters used to the club signing under-performing forwards in the last few years, and many feel after his eye-catching display on Saturday, the Northern Ireland international should keep his place, despite Wyke’s recovery.
Sunderland could rise to second place in League One with a big win tonight against a Rovers side in poor form, and it’s clear from the reaction on Twitter, who many of the Sunderland faithful want to see leading the line at the Memorial Stadium.
https://twitter.com/GazJ20162017/status/1237341601791455232?s=20
https://twitter.com/pdays01/status/1237389970995740674?s=20
Lafferty has proven to be better upfront. Wyke should only be used as a sub
— Daniel Jenks (@DanielJenks89) March 10, 2020
https://twitter.com/Christianling13/status/1237349822958632963?s=20
Thanks and that Charlie but Lafferty starts for me every time.
— Adam Simm (@Simmysafc) March 10, 2020
Contention for the bench hopefully
— Martin Connell (@martinpconnell) March 10, 2020
Off the bench or up top with Lafferty, can't replace him after Saturday #safc
— Craig J (@jacka17) March 10, 2020
As someone who thinks Wyke is undervalued for the work he gets through (and the amount of times he's fouled without anything being given), Lafferty has got to start tonight! 2 goals and he looked sharp on Saturday
— Marcus Black (@marcusblackcat) March 10, 2020
https://twitter.com/sunlun79/status/1237342312776286208?s=20
Sorry like but Wyke hasn’t exactly set the stadium alight since he arrived has he? Lafferty all day long and he’s a proven goal scorer, I’d even have Grigg up beside him for the 6yders
— Anthony A🔴⚪️ (@Tdal1369) March 10, 2020
Phil will get loads of abuse if wyke gets a start and we lose
— philip emmerson (@fonz1971) March 10, 2020
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