TONY MOWBRAY is hoping Ellis Simms’ return to action will enable Sunderland to be more flexible with their attacking approach.

Simms ended a six-week injury absence when he came off the bench in the closing stages of Saturday’s draw at Luton Town, and is expected to be back among the substitutes when the Black Cats head to Huddersfield Town tomorrow evening.

The Everton loanee is unlikely to return to the starting line-up until after the World Cup break, but his return nevertheless represents a major boost to a Sunderland side that have been struggling without a recognised centre-forward for more than a month.

Jack Clark, Alex Pritchard and Amad Diallo have all tried to plug the gap, with varying degrees of success, but Mowbray is hoping Simms’ gradual reintegration will enable his side to be more direct when the opportunity arises.

“He gives us a platform to play off,” said the boss. “It’s difficult, as we’ve been finding for the last half-a-dozen games or so. You have to build really because you haven’t got a directness to be able to hit anyone centrally.

“We’ve been trying to hit full-backs pushing up out wide, to nick it down the line and play in behind them. When you haven’t got a target to play off, then when teams are pushing high against you, sometimes you need to release the pressure.

The Northern Echo: Sunderland striker Ellis Simms is continuing his return from injurySunderland striker Ellis Simms is continuing his return from injury

“We can still start by building, but if Ellis is in the side, then we can play off him, midfielders can run off him, and we’re away. When he’s on the field, and Patrick (Roberts) or Jack have the ball, we can really push the opposition back.

“When Jack plays down the middle, we’re really trying to slide it down the side to enable him to run on goal, which is more difficult than dropping it in to a big man who can control it on his chest and then bring the midfield in. Ellis allows us to do that – to have a target or to play over the top of their press.”

Sunderland head into tomorrow’s game with a six-point advantage over a Huddersfield side who are rooted in the relegation zone despite their weekend win over Millwall.

The Terriers are already on their second manager of the season following the rapid departure of Danny Schofield, but given that they made the play-off final last season, Mowbray is adamant they should not be underestimated.

“Huddersfield have had a difficult start to the season with a manager who has left, and a new manager now who will be embedding his ideas,” said the Black Cats boss, who is without the suspended Clarke tomorrow. “But they had good enough players to get to the play-offs last season.

“We have to try to impose our style on them really. If we can, and if we do, we can give them a difficult evening. But I’m sure on the back of a 1-0 win over Millwall, they’ll be confident and looking for back-to-back wins.”


Sunderland (probable, 4-3-3): Patterson; Hume, O’Nien, Batth, Cirkin; Neil, Evans, Embleton; Roberts, Diallo, Pritchard