Mike Dodds promises 'interesting' Sunderland team selection to cover Jack Clarke absence

Sunderland appear to have a plan for coping without Jack Clarke, and Mike Dodds says he us 'excited' about the challenge it presents.

Mike Dodds says Sunderland will make ‘tweaks’ tactically to cover for the Jack Clarke injury as he promised an ‘interesting team selection’ for the Swansea game.

Clarke, Sunderland’s top scorer this season with 15 goals but he will be missing against the Swans due to an ankle problem.

That is obviously a blow for Sunderland, but Mike Dodds says it does not necessarily need to be something everyone feels doom and gloom about.

Sunderland players 'really enjoyed' working with Michael Beale, claims midfielder

In fact, Dodds is ‘excited’ about the tactical options it opens up to him.

“Jack Clarke is one of the best wingers in the league,” he said. “If you take Jack Clarke out of any of the teams in the league and he’s a miss.

“On the flipside I’m also a little bit excited around tweaking and changing one or two things. I’m excited around what things can we move around within the group?

“The proof will, ultimately, be in the pudding, won’t it?”

When Dodds was in charge earlier in the season, he showed his tactical nous by changing the shape and dynamic of the team against Leeds.

Sunderland won that game, and Dodds has hinted that fans should maybe expect a surprise or two this week too.

“Without giving too much away, it’ an opportunity for me to change one or two things,” he said.

“I think last time I showed - I mean this respectfully - that I'll do what's best for the group. When you have someone like Jack that has been taken out of the group, you have to come up with solutions for that.

“The next few games, in particular the one on Saturday, will be interesting in terms of team selections.”

'Class and quality' - Sunderland boss pays tribute to Tony Mowbray after amazing gesture

READ MORE SUNDERLAND NEWS

• Sunderland contract situation: Who is nearing the end of their current deal?
• Top Ten: Sunderland's best ever January signings
• Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham names two former Sunderland players as his heroes
• Jordan Willis and seven other Sunderland careers ruined by injury
• Sell to thrive, not sell to survive: The Sunderland 'model' explained - in their own words
• Luke O'Nien and eight other Sunderland players who successfully changed positions