Mike Dodds' every word ahead of Sunderland vs Cardiff City

Mike firstly, who's fit and can travel to Cardiff?

Good question. Pat has done three or four sessions now so he's training with the group. Obviously we've got to be mindful of the fact he's had two hamstring injuries this year and we've got two games in a short space of time, or three games if you include the following Saturday. Corry has been training full contact now. He's back with the group. Aji played some minutes for the U21s, so he's back training. Jack is still a question mark at the moment. Unfortunately, we were hoping based on his history, that would be quicker than the prognosis, but unfortunately that's not the case. Jack is out on the grass, he is running but I don't think he's going to be available this weekend.

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Bradley Dack?

Yeah he's available. He's been training, so, to have people like Corry and Dacky in the group, I think just in terms of their experience, it's hugely valuable for everyone. They're the main ones.

Rusyn was the other one?

Yeah it's a real strange one. He took a contact injury against Southampton. He came out and trained the Tuesday afterwards and complained of some issues with his calf. Based on the specialist, they still think he'll be a couple of weeks. So, we should see Rusyn before the end of the season, but I think the reality is, it'll be the latter end of the season for Naz.

Jenson Seelt, he was going to have a scan?

Yeah worst case scenario for Jenson. He's going to have to have an operation and they're looking at six to nine months. As I've said in previous press conferences, I've never experienced anything like this from my time at the football club. As I keep saying, it is what it is. I feel for Jenson because just when he was going to get his opportunity, this happens. Sometimes for young footballers - it's going to be a challenge for him. He seems in a good place and has processed what the outcome is. Unfortunately it's going to be a long period out for him.

How has the international break been, does it feel like  fresh start for the final eight games?

Yeah, look, I was really disappointed with the QPR game. In the five games I've taken, that was the worst in terms of performance. I was really disappointed with most aspects of that game. I think it's good we've had a number of the lads away on international duty and I think a change of scenery can be good for them. We've only had a handful back today and we've got a handful back tomorrow so they'll start filtering back in from wherever they've been.

The rest of the group has trained really well. We've had a good couple of weeks [training]. We've got three games in particular where we'll come up against opposition that'll be really well organised. We're going to have to be miles better on the ball than we were against QPR. The addition of some of the guys coming back from injury pads the squad out a little bit more. We were beyond thin before the international break. Just having them back in on the grass, in the training session just gives everyone a boost.

Has there been any change in you taking charge for the end of the season?

As far as I'm concerned, the original conversation was take the team until the end of the season. If we find an ideal candidate between now and then, we'll let you know. I'm comfortable with whatever the outcome is. My priority is to win games of football. I'm not thinking about who the next head coach is with all due respect to that person. We need a result and we need a result really quickly. The next game and the next three games are going to be really important.

Kristjaan has said whoever comes in now can bring their own staff with them, are you comfortable with that because that could have an impact on you?

Yeah. I'm more than comfortable with it, that was the case with Mick [Beale] as well. There was a conversation with Mick around bringing a member of staff in with him, but he would initially come in by himself. That was always the case with Mick, for whatever reason it just didn't happen. Nothing changed from when I took the team last time and Mick came in. Nothing has changed this time really, in terms of my position at the football club.

Cardiff, like QPR are a team in form, bar the derby defeat to Swansea?

Really well organised. It'll be similar in terms of the QPR game in putting bodies behind the ball, but it'll not be bodies behind the ball for bodies sake. They're really well organised, coached out of possession, a huge threat from set pieces which we've spoken about with the group and work we're going to have to do over the next 48 hours. Ultimately we've got to be better with the ball. That's my biggest disappointment, sometimes the international break is a blessing but it's also a curse because you want that next game to correct the last game. I was really disappointed with how poor we were with the ball. We spoke about being better with the ball regardless of who we play. [Cardiff are] A really well coached team. I think the coach has got the maximum out of what he's had at his disposal and I think they've had a reasonably good season.

They are in form. Their last game was a derby game. Which, I don't think you can read into them too much because there's so much passion and factors that go into those types of game. It's the games prior to that we've watched. Really well organised, a threat from set pieces and have some really good individuals at the top end of the pitch.

Have you spoken with Tony Mowbray and do you know how his recovery is going?

Yeah I've spoken with Tony. He's back home, which I think is massive for him and his family. I am due to catch up with him but his response was 'get a win first.' So hopefully, when that win comes, I'll pop round, have a coffee and a catch-up. He wants me to concentrate on the job. As everyone knows I've got nothing but admiration and gratitude for everything he has done for me and continues to do for me. He's back home. I don't know details in terms of how everything went. He's back with his family and we were due to catch-up for a coffee but he wants me to concentrate on the job first.

Is that kind of a message you can use with the players, to do it for Tony?

Listen, in a respectful way I don't want to use Tony's situation as a motivational tool, but I do think it can make people realise that we're all hugely passionate about Sunderland football club. We're hugely passionate about winning games of football, none more so than myself in terms of who wants to be successful. Sometimes, life happens around you and there are bigger pictures to things that go on in life. It won't just be Tony's situation, I'm sure we've got an amazing fanbase and there'll be personal situations they're all going through. What we've got to try and do is put smiles on peoples faces and the easiest way to do that is clearly to win games. We can help the Sunderland fans in terms of whatever they've got on in their lives and I'm sure we can help Tony. I think he would prefer us to win games of football than worrying about him, I mean that respectfully.

The draw at QPR was important in terms of breaking the cycle of defeats, has the two week break refreshed the players and going into this as positive?

That bit isn't lost on me. I agree with that. As a coach you want the team to be representative of you and I appreciate results during this third spell haven't gone as well as I would have liked. I think some of the performances or pockets of the performances have been reflective of the work that we've been doing. QPR wasn't reflective of that and that's my disappointment. The guys know that and we've had some really good conversations around that game. I agree, in terms of a two week break can be refreshing, but there's also the other side where we want the next game to pout that bit right. Like I said earlier, we've got to be better with the ball against Cardiff and Blackburn because they're really well organised out of possession. If we're not good with the ball it could be a long afternoon.

How have you been able to use the international break with the players that you've had?

It's more difficult than people think. You've got six or seven guys away, and then you've got to try and get a balance with the guys that are still here. You're utilising a lot of the younger players to get that balance in terms of the work that you want to do. It's not as easy or straightforward as what people think. But that will be the same for most clubs up and down the country so it's not an excuse. It's been good in terms of the lads that have been left over, in terms of individual stuff that we've been doing with them. Whether that be clips or games that are coming up, it's been good from that perspective but it's not as straightforward as 'you've had two weeks to work with the team and iron out all the things that have happened previously.' That's not the case because a lot of the lads are away on international duty. For a lot of the lads, it's a really important two weeks.

What's the mood for the final stretch?

Yeah I'm always conscious around answering this because we've not won since I've taken over the team. They're not skipping up and down the corridors but the general feel around the environment is fairly positive. Like I've said previously, when the players have clarity on what we're trying to do, I think it becomes a lot easier for them to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I think when that clarity is gone, it becomes really difficult for footballers. They've been really good from that point of view. As I said after the last game, I think we need a little bit of help. Getting some of those bodies back will help the group because I think we're asking a lot of one or two individuals at the moment in terms of where they are in their timeline. When we get one or two bodies back, I think it will be a huge boost to everyone.

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Two games in quick succession, are the injuries something you're concerned about?

 I wouldn't say I'm concerned about it. It's been no different to the previous five games. There's not a huge amount of difference. The two games are going to be really difficult games. I think Cardiff, apart from the last game, are in really strong form. Blackburn I know John has gone in at Blackburn and I've watched a lot of his games at Birmingham last season. I don't think he really got the credit he deserves for the job he did at Birmingham. I thought he did an unbelievable job for what he had at his disposal and having watched Blackburn, he's followed a similar mantra in terms of really well organised. You can see they're really well coached. I know they probably haven't got the results that they've deserved but both games are going to be very similar in terms of us being good with the ball. If we're not good with the ball, both games are going to be difficult for us. Ultimately, I look at us and if we're good with the ball, hopefully the result will be what we want them to be.