Phil Parkinson explains his big Chris Maguire decision and what it said about Sunderland's promotion bid

Parkinson had made the call to leave Maguire on the bench as one of four changes for the trip to Gillingham.

Maguire has been one of his most important players in 2020, but the Black Cats boss says he felt he had lost some sharpness in the last two winless games.

He says the ability to rotate his players is going to be crucial in Sunderland’s bid to win promotion.

Josh Scowen, who took Maguire’s place in the side, missed some superb opportunities to put his side ahead, but Parkinson was pleased with his lively performance.

“We feel that we've got the squad to make changes and keep freshening the team up this year,” Parkinson said.

“That will be important when we feel players have lost a bit of sharpness, like Chrissy in the last couple of games.

“He was great when he came on, and it shows we have the options to do that.

“Josh has been excellent for us in terms of his movements and his runs, and the timing he has to arrive in the box,” he added.

“On another day, he is scoring at least two.

“The one in the first half, he'll be waking up in the middle of the night with his eyes wide open about that one.

“But it's a case of not getting frustrated, keep playing.

“That's what pleased me today. There's always a case for throwing another striker or another forward player on, but we wanted to keep that cohesion in our play and I think that won us the game.”

Parkinson says that while the salary cap rules introduced this summer have brought clubs closer together in terms of the quality of their starting XI, he believes it is the depth that he has at his disposal that could make all the difference in the months ahead.

“I think our strength is our squad,” he said.

“I've been saying to people at the club throughout, that there are some very good starting XI's throughout the league, and we are up there with them.

“But I feel our second XI is strong, as well.

“Once the winter months kick in, the injuries and suspension, I am comfortable that we have the options we need.

“Elliot Embleton has scored twice last night, Callum McFadzean got 45 minutes under his belt and did well.

“These players are going to be just as important for us.

“What pleased me today was one, the subs who came off the bench and two, the senior boys who we left out the team were great in the dressing room, right behind the lads.

“We need that togetherness.

“Lads are going to get left out because of the unprecedented nature of the season, but they have to get behind the team and they did.

“Everyone knows that the salary cap has levelled the playing field to an extent in terms of the starting XIs,” he added.

"I think what we've been able to do is get that depth in the squad which will stand us in good stead.

“There are good teams in this league and I keep saying, every game is a challenge.

“We've got to be right at it to win.”

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