Lynden Gooch has admitted he needs to be more consistent for Sunderland this season.
Last term was Gooch ’s first full campaign as a senior player, and the rigours of the 61-match programme seemed to catch up with him.
The American international was excellent in the first four months, scoring six goals before December, but only one afterwards.
He started just eight of the final 25 matches in all competitions and was an unused substitute in the League One play-off final.
Gooch signed a new contract over Christmas and his girlfriend gave birth to their first child, Oax, in February.
He scored in the first two matches of this season, and has been an ever-present, initially at right wing-back, now on right wing after the switch to 4-4-2.
“Last year I was consistent for about six months, then I dropped off,” Gooch told the Sunderland Echo on a visit to the city’s foodbank warehouse. “So hopefully I can maintain that for the full nine or 10 months across the whole season.”
The 23-year-old Academy of Light graduate sees himself as a centre-forward but has rarely been used there.
“I do like playing more centrally,” he admitted. “It’s hard to say what my best position is. Obviously, I’ve played a lot of my career for Sunderland on the right.
“It’s one of those things, though, I find myself playing and getting in the team on the right.
“I’ll play anywhere, I’ll play left-back, I’ve played right wing-back and I’ve played left wing-back in pre-season.
“If there’s any way I can get on the pitch and help the team then I’ll do that.”
