Going ahead, the former Sunderland midfielder will report to the former Black Cats manager.
In many ways, Elliot Embleton’s departure from Sunderland this summer marked the end of an era. After six years with the first team at the Stadium of Light and a considerably longer stay with the Black Cats overall, the academy graduate—who was always Mackem—left Wearside.
Few fans would have publicly called for Embleton to be sold, but after a torturous stint on the treatment table and a subsequent fall in the rankings, there was also an implicit understanding that the midfielder needed a change of scenery to spark a new chapter in his career. His farewell was an emotional one, and his exit was bittersweet in the eyes of many.
In the end, that fresh start would be at Blackpool, a team the 25-year-old had experienced a somewhat successful loan with a few years earlier, aiding them in winning promotion back to the Championship through the play-offs. “I’m buzzing to be back and looking forward to the future here at Blackpool,” Embleton added, referring to his return to Bloomfield Road earlier in the summer. I need to play football again because I have such wonderful memories of playing here and feeling like I did well enough for us to get promoted.
However, how has Embleton’s situation changed after he was revealed for the second time as a Blackpool player? All things considered, the Tangerines’ new campaign has had a challenging beginning. They presently rank 22nd in League One with only two points from their first four games, and as a result, the club fired manager Neil Critchley, who signed Embleton, towards the end of August. Steve Bruce, the former manager of Sunderland and Newcastle United, was named as his replacement earlier this week, so Embleton already has a new face in the dugout to take into consideration.
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Having said that, the 25-year-old might benefit from a managerial change. He has only made four substitute appearances in League One this season, accumulating just under 100 minutes. Nevertheless, he has started all two of Blackpool’s EFL Cup games, including last week’s 2-1 victory over Blackburn Rovers.
It appears that Embleton’s output has also been affected by this lack of significant opportunity. Whoscored’s statistical analysis shows that the former Sunderland player has yet to record a goal or an assist, and that his league average match rating of just 6.1 is the third lowest of any player on Blackpool’s roster. That makes complete sense, to a certain extent; it’s difficult for any player to make an impression coming off the bench, much less when they are joining a team that is obviously struggling as much as the Seasiders are right now. The issue of match fitness is another. After a protracted absence from the field, Embleton enters this season and was always going to need to ease his way through the
However, Embleton might have a fresh start and an opportunity to show his value with a new boss. He is undoubtedly a player with more than enough skill to make a name for himself in the third division as a formidable opponent. All he needs to do now is figure out how to do it.
