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Santiago Vergini is in line to make his first Premier League start for Sunderland, Gus Poyet has confirmed.
The Argentinian centre back played in the FA Cup fourth round against Kidderminster and was used from the substitutes bench in the farce against Hull. Now he will get a true baptism of fire away at Manchester City this week.
Poyet said:
It is good for Santiago. He has been waiting for his chance. He was involved in most things on Saturday and he was all right.
It is an opportunity, we always say be ready and you need to be ready after five minutes as he found.
It is easier for defenders the way they play, seeing danger, being good in the air which you need in England. You need to ready for that kind of action. I am sure he is surprised it has come round but he needs to be ready.
It is certainly a big ask for Vergini to come in and impress against such a formidable attack, but Poyet clearly has a lot of faith in him. I think that 'all right' just about sums up his performance against Hull. He neither really impressed or struggled.
I think he is one we need to be patient with, though. He is a player I could see struggling initially but after six months or so really adapting well to the English game. Hopefully time is a luxury we have.
