Nathan Broadhead popped up with an enormous goal in Sunderland's pursuit of a top six finish on Saturday.

The Everton loanee scored a 95th minute winner against Gillingham to see the Black Cats climb into the play-offs at Oxford United's expense.

Broadhead has only recently returned from a serious hamstring injury and will be hoping to make more decisive contributions in the final stretch of the campaign.

Broadhead explained his recovery process and how he is progressing when he spoke to ChronicleLive.

He said: "The thing with a hamstring is you have to be patient and I'm not really a patient guy with injuries.

"Maybe I came back maybe a bit too early (against Charlton), I don't know, but I felt good in my head at the time but my body never agreed with it.

"You learn from these mistakes and hopefully from now on it can be a good run with me in the team and scoring goals.

"That is what I was thinking of when I was injured - coming back here.

"The club has believed in me and kept me on so I need to repay them.

"I felt great (against Gillingham).

"I felt sharp.

"Another week in training will do me the world of good."

Oxford will respond and the play-off race could go down to the wire in League One, keeping Broadhead fit could prove to be the difference for Sunderland.

The Verdict

 

 

The Black Cats are desperate to avoid a fifth straight season in League One and Broadhead's return certainly takes some of the pressure off of Ross Stewart in the final third.

Sunderland have been here before and come off second best, but this time around, with greater youthful exuberance in the squad with players like Broadhead, Alex Neil will be confident that they can go one better.

With Oxford up next, and then Plymouth Argyle and Rotherham United still to play before the season is out, there will be plenty of ups and downs in the remaining six fixtures.

Five clean sheets in six is a very good foundation for the Black Cats to build on and prepare for their third play-off campaign in four years.