Sunderland assistant reacts to another Chris Maguire masterclass and allays injury fears with this joke
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Maguire played a part in all three goals as Sunderland raced into a three-nil lead that they never looked like relinquishing against Rochdale.
There was a slight concern for the Black Cats as he appeared to pull up with an injury midway through the second half.
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Hide AdPhil Parkinson had already been planning to replace him with Antoine Semenyo, and the 31-year-old looked to be in discomfort as he made his way back round to the dug-out.
Assistant Steve Parkin allayed any fears with a joke in his post-match press conference.
“He's alright,” he said.
“He said he did it with a burst of pace. I can't see that, can you?
“I think it's a bit of a dead leg. He'll be fine.”
Sunderland face Oxford United on Saturday with both Maguire and Lynden Gooch in exceptional form.
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Hide AdThe pair are likely to be crucial again to Sunderland’s hopes of landing three vital points and Parkin says Maguire is relishing his role.
“I think he's a player playing with a lot of confidence,” he says.
“I think he enjoys the role, he's relishing the fact that he gets a lot of the ball and in good areas.
“He's a tremendous crosser of the ball, if you give him half a yard he will put in a good area.
“He's been a key player for us and he's enjoying his football.”