Tony Mowbray labels Sunderland star 'Premier League quality' after West Brom heroics

Tony Mowbray has hailed Dennis Cirkin as a ‘Premier League quality’ player after his heroics for Sunderland at West Brom.

Cirkin returned from suspension to score both goals in the vital 2-1 win over the Baggies – a result that saw Sunderland climb into the play-off positions in the Championship.

The defender bagged his first with a fine header just after half-time before producing a the matchwinner after a flowing Sunderland passing move.

Cirkin has struggled with injuries in the second half of the season, but he has found a goalscoring touch at a great time for the Black Cats having now scored four goals in his last eight games.

"Dennis scored an amazing goal at Millwall when he got his concussion, and a brilliant header at the back stick against Wigan earlier in the season,” Mowbray said.

"Dennis is a really powerful, aggressive, guy and we just need to keep on pushing him to believe in himself and to go and do it.

“He's undoubtedly got Premier League quality, he's a powerful unit and he can nick goals for you as he did today. Why he was in the box? I'm not sure!

"He was playing left centre-half in a back three and yet he ended up in the box twice and scored two goals. It's credit to the bravery of the team that they kept going and he joined in.

"I'm delighted for the team and delighted for Dennis and delighted for the thousands of fans who made the trip again today."

If neither Blackburn (v Burnley) and West Brom (v Sheffield United) win in midweek, Sunderland will head into the final two games of the season with their play-offs fate in their own hands.

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