Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray discusses Bradley Dack’s injury strategy.
HAVING stated his wish to “prove a point” to Blackburn Rovers upon joining Sunderland in the summer, Bradley Dack’s absence from Ewood Park tonight seems understandable.
While Tony Mowbray admits the Black Cats will miss the attacking midfielder, the Sunderland manager says Dack’s hamstring injury is “not a major concern,” adding that he doesn’t expect the 29-year-old to play every game this season after suffering two serious knee injuries last season.
“There was no intention of bringing Bradley in on the back of two cruciates and expecting him to play 40-odd games,” Mowbray explained.
“If we can get 25 games out of Bradley Dack this year, we’ll be more than happy.”
The hamstring ailment that has kept Dack out of tonight’s game is considered a “tweak” rather than a significant one. He could have played the game, according to Mowbray, but Sunderland would rather give the playmaker a couple of weeks of rest and rehab than risk exacerbating the problem.
“He’s played three games in a row,” Mowbray added. It’s fine for him to miss a couple of games before returning. Bradley is fine with it.
“He’s a loss for us because he’s a talented midfielder who can score goals, as he did against Southampton.” However, it is not a huge problem at the present.He’d have been desperate to play for Blackburn, I’m sure. But he’s not going to participate. He’ll be disappointed, but he’ll accompany the team. Bradley is here to help some of the younger players understand the game better, to add his talent to the dressing room, and to improve the team as a whole.
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While Sunderland prioritise the capture of talented young players with big potential in the transfer window, Mowbray stressed the importance of ensuring there was enough experience in his dressing room in the summer. And he jumped at the chance to sign Dack, a player he knows well from his time in charge of Blackburn.
“He’s a very good player, a very talented boy, he’s a good human being who knows what’s right and wrong,” said Mowbray.
“He’s an experienced pro who can help players. One of the main reasons to bring him in, if we’re going to sprinkle our young squad with experienced players, Bradley Dack is in my eyes a good role model who has a pretty high profile but when you work with him day in, day out you know he’s a good kid with the right morals.
“I had no issues putting Bradley in our group because I know he’s a good guy who’ll help others. If he can help the young midfielders or strikers improve and get better, then everyone benefits.
“Bradley just wants to come and play football. He hasn’t got a bad injury. We could probably play him but I think it would just heighten the issue and we’re trying to put it to bed.”
