O'Brien, Maguire, Diamond or Grigg? Assessing Sunderland's major second striker dilemma and the key candidates

In recent weeks, we’ve seen plenty of players raise a hand and stamp their mark on a spot in the Sunderland team.
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Lee Burge has undoubtedly established himself as the club’s number one, while Denver Hume has quickly become one of the first names on the teamsheet.

In midfield, Grant Leadbitter and Josh Scowen have emerged as an effective pairing and further up the field, Charlie Wyke has put in some fine performances and Lynden Gooch has found some consistent form in the role just behind him.

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But there is one area where a debate rages on as to who is Sunderland’s best option.

Assessing Sunderland's major second striker dilemma and the key candidatesAssessing Sunderland's major second striker dilemma and the key candidates
Assessing Sunderland's major second striker dilemma and the key candidates

The second striker role – or number ten, depending on what slight variation of their traditional shape Sunderland use – remains an area of slight concern.

We’ve seen plenty of players handed a chance to shine in that role in recent weeks, but have any done enough to stake their claim?

Chris Maguire had played in that role since the last international break but had struggled to recreate some of his early season form, finding himself out the side at Gillingham.

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His cameo from the bench, albeit brief, was a positive one and he will undoubtedly be in Parkinson’s thoughts for the visit of Ipswich.

So too will Aiden O’Brien after his return to the side at Priestfield.

The Irish international’s performance in Kent was a varied one, with his spurned chances in and around the area counteracted by some positive-thinking and a desire to stretch the opposition defence.

Parkinson has often spoken of his desire to see his forward players run the channels and expose opposition backlines, and O’Brien certainly does that – but as long as his wait for a goal continues, there will be questions asked over whether he is the club’s best option.

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That duo are far from the only candidates that Parkinson could select from, though.

After a promising pre-season and some encouraging displays early in the term, many have been disappointed that Will Grigg hasn’t seen more first-team action.

He was ready to enter the field at Priestfield until Sunderland were awarded their late penalty and the change was cancelled, meaning he has now played a total of just 45 minutes in League One since the opening day of the season.

But could Grigg, playing alongside Wyke with Gooch in behind, prove an option?

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It’s certainly an attack-minded approach and one which may please supporters, but is a fairly untested partnership and one which may take time to build.

Another alternative could be Jack Diamond who, while having been deployed on the right flank during his first-team forays this season, is no stranger to playing in a more advanced role.

He'd certainly bring plenty of energy and he would be able to stretch the backline as Parkinson so desires, but he is again a fairly untried option at League One level.

It will be an interesting narrative to follow in the coming weeks as to whether someone can put their hand up and establish themselves in this key role.

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If they can, then we may see things start to click slightly more in an attacking sense.

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