Jon McLaughlin has been called up for the Scotland national team squad, as confirmed on the Sunderland Twitter account.
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This comes after he has started all nine of Sunderland’s League One matches so far, though he is yet to keep a clean sheet, as per Transfermarkt.
The 32-year-old’s inclusion will put him up against David Marshall and Craig MacGillivray to feature against Russia and San Marino:
Our stopper Jon McLaughlin has been called up to the @ScotlandNT for their upcoming games. #SAFC https://t.co/fvxavZ5raY
— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) October 1, 2019
Rather than looking at this development in excitement for McLaughlin, many Sunderland fans are actually seeing this as a big opportunity for his understudy, Lee Burge.
The 26-year-old has only featured in the Carabao Cup so far this season, though he has played the full 90 minutes in all three of the games.
He has been impressive, especially against Sheffield United, when he kept the Black Cats’ first clean sheet of the season.
There are sections of the Sunderland support who feel Burge should also be playing in the league, with McLaughlin’s time away with the Scotland national team potentially being his chance to show it.
A selection of Twitter reaction to the announcement, including posts from excited Sunderland fans, can be seen below:
Here’s your chance, Burge. Could get a decent run in the team.
— Nick Mustard (@NMustard4) October 1, 2019
Massive change for Burge
— Paul (@paulthomase) October 1, 2019
Hopefully burge gets a chance now
— james turnbull (@jxmes123) October 1, 2019
Hope we don’t have to postpone another game for his call up
Get the lad Burge in#safc— Walter The Pigeon (@WalterThePigeo1) October 1, 2019
@LeeBurge01 in and no need to call off the game for a Tuesday night reschedule!
— Alex Mills (@AlexJaMills) October 1, 2019
@Marshy_SAFC Leeeee burge
— aidan (@aidanlowther) October 1, 2019
Sunderland fans, can Burge become your club’s main goalkeeper? Join the discussion by commenting below…
