Paul Bryson has urged his players to play without fear when they head to Tyneside this Saturday.
Sunderland under-18s were unfortunate last time out away at Liverpool, as a second-half strike from Luis Longstaff proved to be the game’s only goal.
Forced to play without a recognised striker, though, due to the absence of Cole Kiernan, Connor Slack was deemed only fit enough to make the bench following his injury over Christmas.
Speaking to safc.com, the youth team boss admitted there’s been little reprieve in the treatment room, with Kane Evans the latest addition to the list following his early exit on Monday night for the under-23s.
Bryson is, however, refusing to dwell too much on that and has insisted his players must show courage when they take on the Magpies tomorrow.
“If we apply ourselves in the same way we did on Friday night at Liverpool and play without any fear – sometimes I think we have done that in the past against Newcastle – then we have a chance,” he said.
“In the past, we have got caught up in the fact it’s a derby, a game against Newcastle.”
He continued: “We just need to play our normal game, give it our best shot and then we have a chance.
“We’ve got a number of injuries and a number of players who are likely to go out on loan so our formation on the day will really depend on who we have available.
“Kane Evans got injured with the under-23s on Monday and Cole Kiernan is still injured. It is what it is and we have to just get on with it.”
