Roker Roundup: Sunderland chasing 21-year old Barnsley winger, according to report

Sunderland interest in Thomas

Sunderland are considering a January move for Barnsley winger Luke Thomas, according to reports.

Gloucestershire Live claim that several League One sides, including Sunderland and Oxford United, are interested in the winger who joined Barnsley from Derby County in June 2019.

The 21-year-old has been a regular in the Championship for the Tykes over the last two seasons but has not cemented a spot in the starting XI, finding himself either subbed on or off in most games.

Thomas has League One experience through a season-long loan at Coventry City during the 2018-19 season.

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Robinson wants tough sanctions

As Sunderland isolate due to a Covid-19 outbreak in the team, which has seen the Academy of Light closed until further notice, Oxford United boss Karl Robinson wants tougher sanctions imposed for teams breaking protocols, including points deductions.

Speaking to the Oxford Mail, Robinson is confident that Sunderland had not broken social distancing protocols but he believes other teams may be getting away with less strict measures and getting away with it, something he hopes will stop soon:

When you have people who travel on coaches and stay in hotels when they know they’ve got Covid, at some stage points [deductions] have to be put in front of managers if they do the protocols wrong.

If I have a meeting with everyone in one room and someone tests positive, that’s my fault. If we have every single player in the gym at one time, that’s my fault.

We’re in different dressing rooms, we sit in different seats and everyone’s socially-distanced while they’re eating.

Our training protocol has to change because of how close people are for a period of time.

We’re constantly checking that. We spend money on testing the second someone has a little cold and there’s other teams that don’t and get away with it.

The fine will come next season – something has to change.

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Player of the Year trophy for Bronze

Sunderland academy product Lucy Bronze has won The Best FIFA Women’s Player for 2020 at the FIFA Best Football Awards.

Bronze, who currently plays for Manchester City, becomes the first British player to win one of the top two categories at the awards.

Speaking at the ceremony, Bronze was obviously delighted to be named the best women’s player in the world for 2020:

Wow, what a surprise, to be even nominated alongside the two other players, who I know very well - both incredible players and amazing human beings.

To have won it, I don’t think I have the words right now to explain how I’m feeling. If there’s anything that 2020 has taught us it’s to appreciate every moment. Winning this award now, I’ll appreciate it more than ever and I’ll remember this moment for the rest of my life.

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