The seven burning issues Phil Parkinson must solve if Sunderland are to win promotion this season

Phil Parkinson, appointed Sunderland boss on October 17, has endured a difficult and busy start to life on Wearside.

The former Bolton boss has only been Black Cats manager for a little over a month but has already taken charge of nine games.

His record? Won two, lost six (including the Oxford United Carabao Cup penalty shootout defeat) and drawn one, against Gillingham in the FA Cup, going on to lose the replay in dire, drab fashion.

On paper that is a poor start by anyone’s standards.

There are mitigating factors (injuries, international call-ups and little time on the training field to hone his messages) plus only four of those 9 games have come in League One after three weeks of touring the country getting knocked out of three cup competitions.

However, Parkinson and the Sunderland squad are experienced enough to know there needs to be a sharp improvement in performances - and results - if the Black Cats are to win promotion this year.

Currently they look way off the pace of the top two and, as things stand, it looks like play-offs at best.

But time is on their side, we are only in November.

Pressure - which is already intense - will, however, only build. Expectation levels are high. Rightly.

Here, we examine seven burning issues that Parkinson must solve if Sunderland are to string together the run of victories needed to win promotion back to the Championship.

Settle on a No1

Lee Burge has been favoured by Parkinson since taking charge with Jon McLaughlin dropped in his first game in charge, a thigh injury saw the Scot return to the fold before Burge reclaimed his place when McLaughlin went on international duty.

Parkinson needs to nail his colours to the mast and state who is No1 is and back him.

It appears to be Burge but that defensive unit needs to be settled, injuries permitting, between now and the end of the season if Sunderland are to have a base on which to build.

Settle on a system

As Jack Ross did before him, Parkinson has tinkered with the system and switched between four at the back, in the league and five at the back, using wing-backs, in cup competitions.

Against Gillingham, Sunderland looked quite comfortable, Brandon Taylor impressing in a make-shift back three alongside Alim Ozturk and full-back Laurens De Bock.

But Sunderland were comfortable because Gillingham’s attack was almost as blunt as Sunderland’s, with zero attempts on target from either side in the 90 minutes. Much tougher challenges lie in store.

Versatility can be important and useful to have but changing the system on a regular basis won’t instill confidence, deciding on a preferred system is key.

Parkinson has spoken about getting to know his whole squad in recent weeks, he has had nine games now so should be up-to-speed with what will work best for this group of players and history has shown this season it is a back four.

Settle on a style of play

Nine games in, it is not yet fully clear what style of play Parkinson is looking to implement - or perhaps more tellingly whether he has the players at his disposal to achieve it - and the nature of some of the recent defeats has been alarming - Gillingham and Scunthorpe to name two.

Parkinson favours a direct style, not necessarily long ball, but getting the ball upfield quicker and building from there.

Against Tranmere Rovers it worked a treat, with bodies in key areas and plenty of good quality balls into the box, to feet, yet Sunderland have moved away from that, against Gillingham they seemed devoid of ideas and creativity.

What is Luke O’Nien’s best position?

Right back or further forward in a more central attacking role? O’Nien has been one of the standout performers this season. Yet under Parkinson, like Ross before him, O’Nien has switched positions.

He may just have to accept that he is a regular starter but one that switches roles at Sunderland.

Perhaps it is time to nail down his position.

Give Marc McNulty more game time

McNulty, who missed the Gillingham defeat with a tight hamstring, has only started three games under Parkinson.

Earlier in the season he looked Sunderland’s biggest attacking threat and with Will Grigg failing to fire, McNulty can count himself unlucky not to have started more games.

McNulty is a doubt for Saturday’s game against Coventry City and with Charlie Wyke also out injured, Parkinson’s attacking options are limited until the January window opens and Sunderland will look to strengthen.

Until then, when he’s fit, McNulty has to feature more.

If Grigg is to start, find a way to get the best out of him

Playing long balls to Grigg doesn’t work, that’s not his strength and Sunderland don’t currently get enough bodies forward to feed off him.

Sunderland need to get more balls into his feet in dangerous areas, such as the only time Sunderland threatened against Gillingham when he turned and shot wide.

Grigg works best feeding off a No.10 - an area Sunderland have struggled to adequately fill - and with a willing runner from central midfield, to help drag the defenders around and create space for him.

Win over the hearts and minds of the fanbase.

And the only way to do that is to win games.

Managers joining clubs mid-season rarely get much of a ‘honeymoon period’ - if that is such a thing - as the season is well underway and need for results is high.

At Sunderland, the pressure to deliver is huge. This club should not be competing in the third tier of English football - but Sunderland are.

And Parkinson is the man the board believes is the best choice to lead the club to promotion this season.

The focus is now 100% on the league with Sunderland knocked out of all cup competitions before December.

After a disappointing start, Sunderland need to start winning games before the whirlwind becomes a full blown storm.