Sunderland midfielder Max Power has stated that while he would like to add more goals to his game, he is happy playing in whatever role Phil Parkinson decides for him.

Sunderland have recently appointed Phil Parkinson as their new manager following the dismissal of Jack Ross. In Sunderland’s first game under their new manager, they fell to a defeat to high-flying Wycombe away from home, but on Tuesday night, they faced Tranmere at the Stadium of Light and ran out 5-0 victors.

One player who has proved key for Sunderland in League One has been central-midfielder, Max Power. Power has made eight appearances in the league so far this season scoring one goal, while making three EFL cup appearances and scoring one goal, taking his total tally for the season to two.

While this might not be the most remarkable record for a midfielder, it should be noted that the goals came in a manner that his name would suggest. Both goals came from distance and were unstoppable strikes against Sheffield United and MK Dons in the cup and league respectively. 

Max Power spoke to the Chronicle Live about his goal-scoring ambitions and his role in the side, he said: "It's not something that I have hid away from that I have wanted to score goals, and I have been working really hard on it in training. If I can add that to my game I will be really happy.

"The strike against Sheffield United was good, but I think I preferred my one against MK Dons as it was struck so perfectly.

"But the goals don't really matter, it is important winning games and making sure that I contribute to the team in whatever way I can.

"I am a team player and I will do whatever is asked of me, so if the new manager wants me to play deeper or further forward, I am more than happy to do it.

"I will always look to adapt and put the team first. We want to get out of this league and the only way to do that is to put a good run of results together."

The Verdict

Power is showing a characteristic that Parkinson will love to see in a key player, that he isn’t willing to sacrifice the team’s ambitions in pursuit of a personal target.

All players enjoy scoring goals but it takes far more discipline and control to be able to understand the bigger picture at play and know that there is more to a midfielder’s game than scoring great goals.

Power and Parkinson will both be hoping, beyond the former’s goals, that the Black Cats can build on Tuesday’s emphatic five-goal performance as they head to Shrewsbury at the weekend.