Sunderland midfielder admits he's 'not sussed out' his best position yet

Is Jay Matete a holding midfield player or a box-to-box one? He says he doesn't even know himself yet.

Sunderland midfielder Jay Matete says he has ‘not really sussed out’ what his best position is as he settles into his loan spell at Oxford.

The 23-year-old is a player that many Sunderland fans have suggested as an answer to the lack of a naturally defence-minded player in the midfield.

However, Matete is not sure that a holding midfield player is his best role, and Plymouth often used him as a box-to-box player last season.

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So, for the moment, he’s trying to keep his options open.

“I like to do both,” Matete told the Oxford Mail. “I can play in the six and I can play a bit more advanced in the eight.

“I’ve not really sussed out my best position yet, but wherever the manager wants to play me, I’ll play there.”

Matete made his first start for the club last week in the 4-2 win over Wigan, and it was a significant step in his recovery from the knee injury he suffered in preseason.

Now, he says, it’s all about getting as many games under his belt as possible, but he has been able to settle in well down south.

“I’m ready to go now. I got a good 65 minutes under my belt, which I needed, and now I want to try and kick on, and show the fans what I can do.

“I’ve settled in quite quickly, the lads have been good with me. It’s close to home, so I’ve settled in really quickly.”

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