REGIS LE BRIS has urged Sunderland’s supporters to get behind Tommy Watson during this afternoon’s home game with Blackburn Rovers.
Watson has been named in the starting side for the game at the Stadium of Light, and is expected to line up on Sunderland’s left-hand side.
The teenager has been a controversial figure since it was announced that he would be leaving Sunderland in the summer in order to join Brighton.
Watson, who has been with the Black Cats’ academy since the age of six, turned down a number of contract offers in order to push through a move to the Amex Stadium.
The 18-year-old was booed off when he was substituted during Sunderland’s last home game against Swansea City just over a week ago, and is understood to have been jeered when he headed back onto the team bus at Bristol City at Friday.
Le Bris is hoping there will be no more acrimony this afternoon, and is calling on Sunderland’s fans to back Watson.
The Sunderland boss said: “Tommy is an important player in our squad. We need everyone available, everyone at their best level.
“We need to support him. We understand the fans because they love their club, but we need positive energy around the club.
“He is going to be important in this period. Tommy can help off the left, off the right, he is a player who in the future could help us for ten, 15 minutes, maybe more… we’ll see.
“We need positive energy in the stadium [for Tommy] because we need everyone.”
Be the first to comment