Regis Le Bris seems to be overflowing with options in his Sunderland squad at the minute.
Considering the lack of depth in Sunderland’s squad last season, it seems to have dramatically turned around this time round.
While defence is an issue due to injuries, the Black Cats have a wealth of talent further up the pitch.
Alan Browne, Chris Rigg, Dan Neil and Jobe Bellingham are all hot contenders for a starting spot every week, while impressive starts for Romaine Mundle and Patrick Roberts are keeping other attackers out.
Meanwhile, despite failing to bring in a senior No.9 on deadline day, Eliezer Mayenda is making life difficult for Wilson Isidor and Nazariy Rusyn.
Despite huge quality in the frontline, there is still one player in the U21s who is continuing to push for his place in the senior team.
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Sunderland youngster is looking for route into senior team
Mike Dodds was urged to give Tommy Watson a proper chance at the end of last season but ignored pleas, while he has since been an unused substitute in Sunderland’s last two league games.
Watson has once again mostly featured for the U21s, scoring twice and picking up an assist in the last four Premier League 2 matches.
The winger started in the Black Cats’ 1-0 defeat to Sheffield United on Friday, and despite defeat, managed to impress yet again.
Sunderland Echo journalist Jason Jones gave Watson a seven rating and wrote: “Full of running and invention as always – a constant threat down the left flank. With every performance he makes more and more of a case for a first team role.”
The 18-year-old mostly features on the left side of the front three and may have been hoping for more minutes once Jack Clarke left.
However, it seems clear that Mundle has earned himself a regular spot in the starting line-up, while Isidor’s arrival is likely to put him into contention too.
Where does Tommy Watson sit in the pecking order?
Watson is surely ahead of Jewison Bennette in the pecking order, but it still means game-time will be very limited given how well the team have done so far.
It was understandable why the forward was wanted in the squad last season given how poor Sunderland were doing. However, there is really no need to make changes in a team who have really impressed so far.
Watson arguably could have been sent out on loan if Bennette was staying, but there is still plenty of time for things to change. If anyone picks up an injury then Le Bris surely won’t be afraid to give him an opportunity.