The Black Cats next manager search is dominating the headlines, but there are still big decisions to be made in the transfer market ahead of the January window
The focus may be on Sunderland’s manager search, but former striker Kevin Phillips believes the Black Cats and their potential new manager must make another important decision in the new year.
Following Tony Mowbray’s dismissal, Sunderland’s interim manager Mike Dodds has reignited the Wearsiders’ play-off aspirations with back-to-back wins over West Brom and Leeds United at the Stadium of Light.
Those performances have taken some of the sting off of the new manager hunt, with Dodds likely to return to the dugout for this weekend’s trip to Bristol City.
While Kristjaan Speakman and his colleagues are right to prioritize the appointment, former South Shields manager Phillips pointed out another move that could have equally major ramifications at the end of the season.
“I still believe it’s a big decision in January.” Do you seek out that striker? A centre forward has yet to score [against Leeds United]. Jobe Bellingham cannot be classified as a center forward. But I’d like to see a genuine center forward come in and score some goals.”
Phillips was speaking to Sky Sports after Tuesday night’s 1-0 win over Leeds United, and he lauded the players’ attitude despite the distraction of the new manager search.
“You saw it in every department, with every player. If you made a mistake, your mate was covering for you. It’s just that desire and that hunger, and if you listen to Luke O’Nien at the end of the match, he said they did that for Doddsy and Michael Proctor tonight.
“They’ve got good team spirit, you can see that. They want to win football matches and they believe they’re good enough. They cam close last season.”
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