LEE JOHNSON admits he is finding it increasingly “embarrassing “ to have to leave some of his so-called fringe performers out of Sunderland’s starting line-up in League One.

The Black Cats’ supposed second-string cruised into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup last night, with goals from Nathan Broadhead and Luke O’Nien securing a 2-0 win at the Wigan Athletic that was much more emphatic than the scoreline might suggest.

Johnson made eight changes from the side that started last weekend’s league draw with Fleetwood, and to a man, those stepping into the team strengthened their claim for more game time in the next few weeks.

Niall Huggins and Frederik Alves impressed in the back four, Corry Evans and Alex Pritchard were dominant in midfield, debutant Leon Dajaku caused the Wigan defence a series of problems on both flanks and Broadhead led the line superbly as he opened his goalscoring account in a Sunderland shirt.

Johnson now has the difficult task of selecting a side to start against Bolton Wanderers at the Stadium of Light on Saturday, and he admits he will have to disappoint some players who do not deserve to be disappointed.

“We’ve seen in training what they all can do, and it's almost embarrassing that you can’t get them on the pitch at times,” said the Sunderland head coach. “I wish we could bring back five subs because you feel almost uncomfortable not being able to get them on the pitch when they're doing so well.

“I know Wigan made changes, but we made changes and I think our depth showed. But it’s almost disrespectful to call that team ‘depth’ because it’s more than that. There’s starters and really good players in that XI – it’s only circumstance that means they haven’t played in the league as much as they would have hoped.”

The progress in Sunderland’s play since the start of the season is becoming increasingly evident, no matter who is in the starting XI, but Johnson feels he has only scratched the surface of what his squad will ultimately be capable of.

“The thing is, we can only get better,” he said. “We haven't peaked, nowhere near. It’ll probably take until game 15 or 20 because we recruited late.

“What I think it’s proven is that it is worth waiting for the quality, and of course that a good pre-season was important for the ones that were here, because they can carry the others at times. I’m really proud of those players tonight.”

Johnson was also able to report positive news relating to Huggins, who went off in the closing stages of the game with what appeared to be an ankle issue. Instead, Sunderland’s medical staff are hoping the full-back has suffered nothing worse than a bout of cramp.

“I’m hoping it’s just cramp,” he said. “I think it was because it seems to have eased off."