This article is part of Football League World’s ‘Comment’ series, this content strand is where the author of the article issues their personal opinion on the topic at hand....

Sunderland go to Accrington Stanley this weekend hoping to climb into the top six in League One.

They’d be there already if it wasn’t for the 3-0 defeat suffered at the hands of Peterborough before the international break. That ended a run of three straight victories and saw Jack Ross come in for some criticism from supporters.

That’s part and parcel of the challenge faced by Sunderland’s management team. They’re expected to win every game and if they drop points at any stage, it comes under scrutiny.

Everything is under scrutiny at the Stadium of Light. The strikers failed to deliver last season and that brought some criticism as well. One, £4m man Will Grigg, complained of injury problems and promised a better season this time around.

That hasn’t happened.

In fact, Grigg is surely on borrowed time already, a white elephant rotting away in the squad whilst other, less expensive recruits, look to forge a bond with the fans. That’s half the battle on Wearside; get the fans on board and you’ll grow from their confidence.

Charlie Wyke had a horrible start to his life at the Stadium of Light, but he’s been preferred to Grigg at times this season. Wyke is a no-frills centre forward, able to hold the ball up and bully defenders. He’s certainly looking better this season, although the recent red card won’t have done his chances any good.

Marc McNulty came in over the summer and he won the fans over quite quickly. He settled nicely into the 4-2-3-1 formation that Jack Ross so desperately wanted to move away from, scoring a couple of goals and generally creating much more of a nuisance than Grigg.

The former Wigan man is now in a desperate situation. He’s been overtaken by Wyke, the man he came in to replace, and he’s been usurped by McNulty as well. He’s an expensive signing who is looking increasingly likely to be side lined unless they get an EFL Trophy win.

There isn’t a need to cash in on him right now, a buyer would likely be unwilling to get anywhere near the fee he commanded in January, but if he continues to find himself on the outside looking in, how long can both parties last?

Can Sunderland really have an expensive import on good wages not contributing? As for Grigg, will he want regular football to prove he’s not the huge flop he’s currently looking like?

It’s a conundrum for both club and player, but Jack Ross won’t risk his own job on a striker who can’t score goals, especially not when he’s seemingly got two who are more able and committed to the cause.

Will Grigg could find this January a very tough period in his career.