Max Power opens up on his new Sunderland role and how he plans to repay Phil Parkinson's faith

The newly-appointed team captain has been deployed in a more advanced role during the early weeks of the new season, giving him the freedom to contribute in the attacking third.

In the weekend draw with Bristol Rovers, George Dobson was asked to sit in and protect the back three as his midfield partner pushed on and joined in the attack.

And it’s a position Power believes he can thrive in, having previously been trusted with a similar responsibility shortly after joining the Black Cats.

A combination of tactical changes and Power’s run of suspensions meant that attack-minded mentality was placed on the back-burner.

But now, with Parkinson having given the 27-year-old the green light to push forward, Power is keen to justify the faith shown in him by the manager.

“I look back to my first few games in a Sunderland shirt – Scunthorpe at home and Gillingham away – and I played in a similar role, 15 or 20 yards higher up the pitch,” he explained.

"If I’m there, I always feel like I can affect the game, get shots off and get in the box and score goals.

"Looking over the course of the three games, I’ve had one cleared off the line against Hull, and as well as hitting the bar today, I had another one cleared off the line too.

“I feel as if I can affect the game higher up the pitch.

"Going back to my start here, it probably didn’t help that I decided to get three red cards in six games! Ultimately, I missed two months of the season, and by the time I came back, the formation had changed.

"That’s history now though. I’m a team player and I’ll always do what’s asked of me. But I won’t hide the fact that I do enjoy playing higher up. I do feel as if I can get more goals there.

"Over the last two seasons, the goal return has probably been in question, but I have been playing a disciplined role in front of a back four.

"I want to justify the manager’s faith for playing me that ten or 15 yards further up the pitch.”

Power has come agonisingly close to opening his account for the 2020/21 already, and is keen to add more goals to his game in the upcoming campaign.

The midfielder’s goal tally stands at seven since his arrival on Wearside in 2018 with the focus now on increasing that number.

“I’ve spoken to the gaffer and the staff and said I want to improve on the goal return,” added Power.

"I feel in the last few games, I’m getting in the box a lot more now. It’s something I want to add to my game.

"I’ve been given a bit more of a licence to go forward, so I feel as though I’ll be able to do that, arriving in the box and getting shots off.”

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