Source: PA
Colback ready for relegation scrap
Midfielder Jack Colback has told manager Steve Bruce to count him in for Sunderland's fight to stay in the Barclays Premier League.
The 21-year-old Academy graduate was handed his first league start for the club at Birmingham last Saturday as injuries and a dismal run of results forced Bruce into yet another reshuffle. Colback did not let his manager down with an assured display, although he could not prevent the Black Cats slipping to a 2-0 defeat, the club's eighth in nine games.
Bruce hopes to have senior men Kieran Richardson and Sulley Muntari back for the vital clash with Wigan, who gave their own hopes of avoiding the drop a significant boost with a 3-1 win at Blackpool last weekend. However, whether they make it or not, Colback is ready to roll up his sleeves once again in the hunt for precious points.
Sunderland face the Latics and then Fulham at the Stadium of Light in their next two games, and while their own fans have grown increasingly restless in recent weeks, the midfielder knows that would change instantly with two positive results.
Colback, who was born and raised on Tyneside, but has spent his formative years in football on Wearside, said: "You feel the passion of the crowd every time you play, and it's great to be playing for your hometown club, so to speak. I have been here since I was 10, so it's as good as, so it's just great to play for them.
"It's just unfortunate the way it has been going at the minute. We need to try to turn it around, and with two home games coming up...The way the league has gone this year, it looks all doom and gloom now, but two wins and we could be back in the top 10 and everyone forgets about the past eight or nine games."
