SUNDERLAND duo Jake Clarke-Salter and Ovie Ejaria took a welcome break from the struggles of the Black Cats’ ongoing relegation battle as they helped England Under-21s claim a 2-1 win over Romania on Saturday night.

Clarke-Salter has endured a miserable month, with his last two performances in a Sunderland shirt having ended prematurely after he was dismissed, but the Chelsea loanee was named the Man of the Match as England’s youngsters triumphed in a friendly at Molineux.

Demarai Gray fired England into an eighth-minute lead as they warmed up for tomorrow’s European Championships qualifier against Ukraine, with Clarke-Salter scoring his side’s second goal midway through the second half.

The Sunderland centre-half headed home Trent Alexander-Arnold’s corner to cap an impressive display that featured a number of important tackles and blocks.

Chris Coleman will be hoping he can reproduce his form in the final eight games of the season, although he is suspended for Friday’s trip to Derby County following his most recent dismissal against Preston.

Coleman will also be hoping that Ejaria’s strong display at the heart of midfield augurs well for his performance levels in the remainder of the domestic campaign.

The Liverpool loanee, who was part of England’s World Cup-winning Under-20s squad last summer, has made six appearances since moving to Wearside in January, and is set to start against the Rams on Friday night.

“Young players like coming to England,” said Under-21s boss Aidy Boothroyd. “It gives them a little break from the hurly-burly of the Championship or the Premier League. It’s nice they can come with us and feel like they can relax, play expansive football, entertain and win.”

There has been little in the way of entertainment or winning at Sunderland this season, and this weekend’s Easter double-header with Derby and Sheffield Wednesday surely represents the Black Cats’ final opportunity to give themselves any chance of scrambling to safety.

Coleman’s side are five points adrift of safety – effectively six once their dreadful goal difference is taken into account – but the Black Cats boss is refusing to throw in the towel.

Having only claimed five league wins all season, Sunderland might well have to double their tally of victories in the next eight matches if they are to have any hope of surviving.

That would appear to be an impossible task, but Coleman will be urging his players to continue believing that they are capable of turning things around.

“It’s quite worrying that we can’t seem to get away from where we are,” said the Sunderland boss. “Nevertheless, with eight games there are still points to be had.

“There are still opportunities to be had despite them getting smaller. With every game that passes, the task gets tougher and tougher, but I think this break has been a welcome one.

“We will recharge our batteries, and I think next weekend will be a defining weekend for everybody. We have to look at it as though Derby County is our last game of the season and try to get a result. Once you start looking beyond that you are on dodgy ground, so we have to throw everything into it.”