Business as usual at Sunderland as under-fire Phil Parkinson returns to Wearside

Phil Parkinson has attended Sunderland’s under-23 clash with Stoke City - as it continues to be business as usual at the Academy of Light.

By Mark Donnelly

Published 9th Dec 2019, 19:01 BST

Updated 9th Dec 2019, 19:02 BST

Phil Parkinson is going about his business as usual at Sunderland

Parkinson, as he has done on several occasions since taking the job on Wearside, watched on at Eppleton CW as the Black Cats’ second string took to the field in Premier League 2.

He was companied by assistant boss Steve Parkin and goalkeeping coach Lee Butler.

Sections of the travelling support chanted against Parkinson following the 1-0 defeat at Gillingham on Saturday, but the 51-year-old is operating as normal ahead of the visit of Blackpool.

Parkinson has already called-up a number of under-23 players during his time at the Stadium of Light - with Bali Mumba, Benji Kimpioka, Ruben Sammut and Brandon Taylor among those involved the first-team.

And he will monitor their progress again this evening as the Black Cats face a Stoke side flying high in Premier League 2, Division 2.