Three players were sent out on loan at the start of this season but how have they been getting on and do any of them have a future on Wearside?
ELLIOT EMBLETON
You have got to feel sorry for Embleton, Mowbray didn’t want him being sent out on loan and was planning on integrating him back into the squad after a lengthy absence due to injury but he was sent off to promotion chasing Derby County in League One. Given his record in League One, two promotions in a row, and the likelihood he would feature a lot more for Derby than for us this move made a lot of sense in my opinion. He scored a great goal for their U21s and then played over 50 minutes (coming on for an injured Connor Hourihane) in an important game against Portsmouth. It looked like his recovery was more or less finished and he was going to play a key role in Derby’s end of season aim of promotion back up to the second tier. Then in a training session, Embleton suffered a very serious quad injury that is going to see him out for several months. Owing to the severity of the injury, the loan was terminated and Elliot unfortunately had to undergo surgery. Let’s hope he can make a return sooner rather than later but to be totally honest I wouldn’t expect to see him back in a Sunderland shirt and considering how much bad luck he’s had here recently a change in environment isn’t the worst idea ever.
ALEX BASS
Our second choice goalkeeper made the very sensible choice to go out on loan in search of regular game time. His destination ended up being League Two AFC Wimbledon, a competitive environment due to the fact that they are looking to return to the third tier and because he would have to dislodge New Zealand international goalkeeper Nikola Tzanev for the number one spot. Bass has so far succeeded in doing that and has featured for the London club 19 times (including all 17 League Two matches). In fact he’s currently joint-top for clean sheets in League Two, so it’s good to see that he’s been getting on well. With Bass only being between the sticks twice for our senior squad last season, both of which were cup matches, and not being the most convincing goalkeeper we’ve ever had; a permanent move away from the club is probably best for both parties. With Wimbledon only four points off the play off places with a game in hand, there is a reasonable possibility they could go up and it would make sense for them to secure his signature on a permanent basis.
JOE ANDERSON
Anderson has been a common sight in a Shrewsbury kit this season, playing 17 games in all competitions, that includes 13/18 games in League One but he did have a suspension at one point because he was shown a straight red card. Shrewsbury have fared much worse this season than they did last season, where they were outsiders for the playoffs for large parts of the campaign. They are 16th and only four points above the bottom four, however I’m going to say they’ll avoid relegation. Anderson has been one of the best players in the league for winning tackles, interceptions, recoveries, and possession won in the final third, therefore you can’t really blame the fact Shrewsbury have the second worst defensive record in the third tier purely on Anderson. However he’s been pretty bad at duels won and aerial duels won and he’s no stranger to being dribbled past either. It looks like he has some things to work on with his game, but at 22 there’s definitely time and there’s a long way to go this season. Will he ever become a regular in the starting XI for Sunderland? At the moment I doubt he will, Triantis and Seelt look like they’ll develop into players of great quality and Luke O’Nien’s contract doesn’t run out any time soon. Of course Ballard may be sold, although if we do go up this season I’d predict we’ll keep him for another campaign at the very least. It may simply be the case that our development as a club outpaces Anderson’s development as a player. If we don’t get promoted this season, then there is always the chance the club chooses to give Anderson a run out in the first team (as Ballard is likely to leave in that scenario, despite signing a new contract only a few months ago) to avoid having to bring in another centre-back.
