Sunderland need greater creativity to get more from January signing Grigg

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After a January transfer window spent searching for a new striker to replace Josh Maja, Sunderland managed to land Northern Ireland international Will Grigg to boost their promotion bid.

Grigg scored 25 league goals for Wigan in the 2015/16 season to fire the club out of League One and into the Championship and it is that goalscoring form that Sunderland need him to recreate in the closing months of the season.

That pedigree is what created such excitement around Grigg’s arrival, but his home debut was something of a false start against Blackpool in midweek.

Grigg missed an open goal in the second half which would have earned all three points for the Black Cats and got his Sunderland spell off to a flying start to boot.

But simply getting in a goalscorer is not the answer to problems in front of goal. Poachers like Grigg rely on services and chances from the wingers and the attacking midfielders.

And Sunderland have not scored more than once in a league game since December – pre-dating Grigg’s arrival substantially – which points to a lack of creativity in the side.

Jack Ross needs to find a way to get his creators more involved in games – with more freedom, confidence and possession to make things happen – and then Grigg will start to shine.