Tony Mowbray on Danny Batth latest as Blackburn Rovers eye Sunderland transfer

Tony Mowbray plans to play Blackburn Rovers target Danny Batth in Sunderland's EFL Cup clash v Crewe Alexandra tomorrow night.

Sunderland host League Two outfit Crewe Alexandra in the EFL Cup tomorrow night.

Mowbray's side will be looking to avenge their opening day defeat at home to Ipswich Town yesterday, with the Tractor Boys leaving the Stadium of Light as 1-0 victors.

Last season's Supporters' Player of the Season Batth was an unused substitute in yesterday's game.

It comes amid ongoing reports linking the player with a move to Blackburn Rovers before the transfer window shuts on September 1st, as Batth enters the final year of his contract.

But Mowbray plans on playing Batth in tomorrow's game v Crewe.

He said (via Lancs Live):

"There's no change. He'll play on Tuesday night. Let's wait and see if the phone rings, let's see how it goes. I think at this moment we are going with Ballard and O'Nien - and they look fine. It's just competition really."

Batth, 32, featured 40 times in Championship fixtures last season, playing a crucial role in the Black Cats' eventual top six finish.

Batth moving on...

Whilst Batth moving on seems like a surprising move on the face of it, he is down in the pecking order after a flurry of summer arrivals, and Sunderland want to pave the way for their new, younger faces.

He put in an incredible season last time round and for Blackburn, he'll be a fantastic signing - especially if they land him on a free transfer.

Mowbray and Sunderland will just have to hope that Batth's seemingly inevitable exit doesn't come back to haunt them, ahead of a long and arduous Championship campaign.

Tomorrow's game v Crewe kicks off at 7:45pm, and it could well be Batth's last in a Sunderland shirt.

Batth moving on...

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