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According to an interview Jack Ross conducted via The Chronicle, the Sunderland manager has revealed that he has told midfielder Dylan McGeouch that he needs to show more belief in his own ability as he begins to get to grips with life in English football.
What’s the word, then?
Well, the Black Cats signed the Scotland international on a free during the summer window after he was released by Scottish Premiership outfit Hibernian, and he put in some standout performances for the Wearside outfit during pre-season.
However, the 25-year-old picked up an injury prior to the campaign and has struggled to be a regular in the starting XI since, coming in and out of the side.
He has taken his chance in the absence of the suspended Max Power in their previous two fixtures though – battling well in the wins against Shrewsbury Town and Doncaster Rovers.
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What did Ross say?
Speaking via The Chronicle, the 42-year-old said: “The style of football is different, the challenges we face in each game and the intensity is different as well, and then it is obviously a change in his life as well.
“We are encouraging him to have that belief and affect the game because he has that ability, he’s intelligent and he understands the game.”
What happens next?
While McGeouch has impressed in recent weeks he is still yet to contribute a goal or an assist so far in League One this season, and unless he improves upon that record he is going to find himself taken out of the starting XI again when Power returns with Lee Cattermole seemingly preferred ahead of him right now.
Given Sunderland are already gunning for an instant return to the Championship and competition for places is pretty strong in the middle of the park, McGeouch needs to show that confidence and perhaps a little more arrogance if he wants to play a key role in their bid.
