Thornton and Piper like two new signings

Matt Piper has had an injury nightmare at Sunderland, only playing 10 games in his time on Wearside. Sean Thornton, a player with plenty of potential, has also been out for a quite a stretch. It was clear to me that there was a point in this season when we lacked an attacking edge and goals were hard to come by. Foward players like Piper and Thornton we're badly missed. But both players are returning to fitness now at a time when Sunderland will need every bit of fire power to reach their goals. Matt Piper and Sean Thornton are truely like new signing and would Mick agrees.

Mick on Piper "He is capable of having 15 or 20 minutes now, but we're hoping to get that up to a half and eventually 90 minutes before the end of the season.

"If we're looking like we need somebody to come on and open a team up he is the perfect person to call on. He has blistering pace, he gets in behind people and can cross from either wing.

"We're going to get as many games as we can from him between now and the end of the season, but we've got to be careful as well.

"He's had a terrible time with injuries for a young lad and he knows he is going to have to look after his knee, he needs to be aware of it and so do we.

"It's going to be difficult for him because of the pace and intensity of the games at this stage of the season, but we'll help him through it.

"He is a big player to have back."

Mick on Thornton "He needs games because he has been out for a long time. He has got a lot of talent, but he knows he has got to do it week in week out.

"He cannot have one good game, enjoy it, and then have a rubbish one next week.

"I talk to him a lot. It is difficult for him coming from Ireland to another country, he is still young and I'm helping him, as we all are.

"As we all saw from his free-kick against Preston he has got fantastic ability and we want him to show that the whole time."

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