Moyes hopes break is chance for Sunderland to regroup

Sunderland manager David Moyes is hoping a two-week break from playing will give some of his injured players a chance to recover and play a key role in the final few months of the season.

The patched-up Wearsiders had the likes of Victor Anichebe, Lee Cattermole and Jan Kirchhoff unavailable to them in their 2-0 defeat against Manchester City on Sunday.

Goals by Sergio Aguero and Leroy Sane earned what was eventually a comfortable victory for City at The Stadium of Light that left Sunderland rock bottom of the Premier League and six points adrift of safety.

Moyes has just 11 games left to rescue his side from relegation to the Championship, although they won’t be in action again until Saturday March 19, when they welcome Burnley.

They were due to travel to fellow strugglers Middlesbrough this weekend, but the match was postponed due to their opponents’ commitments in the FA Cup.

Moyes said: “It’s not nice to go into the break off a defeat, but that’s the way it is.

(Photo by Chris Brunskill Ltd/Getty Images)

“I’m hoping that the break actually gives us a chance to get Victor, Lee and maybe Kirch and all the people back for the start of April or hopefully some of them maybe for the [Burnley] game in March.

“But that’s the way it works; I want to be right in there fighting to the death and give ourselves every opportunity.

“Let’s hope that we can have a good month in April and win some games.”