Sunderland defender Alim Ozturk has admitted he was disappointed to be dropped by Black Cats manager Phil Parkinson following the signing of Bailey Wright, but says it is a decision he had to respect.

Ozturk had enjoyed a run of nine straight starts in all competitions for the Blacks Cats prior to the arrival of Wright on loan from Bristol City until the end of the season, a move which has kept the Turk out of the last five starting lineups names by Parkinson.

Explaining how Parkinson delivered the news of his drop to the bench to Ozturk, and his own response to that, the centre back told the Sunderland Echo: “He spoke to me when Bailey came in. He has his opinion, I have my opinion and that’s what it is so I don’t want to spend too much time on that.

“It happened, I wasn’t happy with it but it’s the choice of the gaffer and you have to respect that and I did.

“I worked hard every training session and I waited for my chance. I didn’t play for three weeks but I will be ready as always. That’s always been what I’ve done since I’ve been here."

It now seems as though Ozturk could be given another chance in Sunderland's starting XI, following the news that Wright is facing up to 12 weeks out with an ankle injury suffered in last week's 1-0 win over Oxford.

But despite the boost it could give his own first-team prospects, Ozturk still appears to have plenty of sympathy for Wright.

Discussing that blow suffered by his new teammate, Ozturk continued: "I feel sorry for him,” said Ozturk when asked about Wright’s injury. That’s not the way you want to come back into the team, if you come back into the team.

“It’s not nice for him and I don’t know exactly how bad it is.”

Since joining Sunderland from Boluspor in his native Turkey in the summer of 2018, Ozturk has made a total of 40 appearances in all competitions for the club, with his current contract at the Stadium of Light set to expire at the end of this season.

The Verdict

This is an interesting one.

Ozturk certainly hasn't hid his feelings he with regards to losing his place in the side, and you have to wonder just what Parkinson will make of that.

Even so, it is good to see Ozturk giving his backing to Wright, who certainly looks as though he will be a big miss for the Black Cats in the promotion run-in.

Despite that, with his contract set to expire at the end of this season, you have to feel this will be something of a relief for Ozturk, with the opportunity it now gives him to impress enough to earn a new deal beyond the end of this season.