Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray has explained his reasoning for dropping Joe Gelhardt for their 2-1 win over Birmingham City.

The Leeds United loanee was not involved from the start in the game, much to the surprise of some fans.

However, Mowbray insists that Gelhardt is aware of the reasons and wants what is best for the team.

"The thinking is that we've really played a back three in the last couple of games - on the build-up, even though it has been a back four we have pushed Lynden Gooch up really high like a wingback and Jack [Clarke] on the other side," Mowbray told Chronicle Live.

"Sometimes it can be difficult to see the formation but that's how we have worked the training, how we built up. It was just about the players we were playing into, really.

"We wanted more control so we played two number tens rather than a center-forward getting marked by big center-halves, because both of our last two opponents have had big, strong, central defenders - as the next opposition [Huddersfield] have big, strong, central defender who want to mark a striker and win headers. I had that discussion with Joe and he understands that it was for the formation change.

"It won't do him any harm to only get 20 or 30 minutes on the pitch for a few games. We'll have to see the formation tomorrow and what he does and whether he is playing or he is not, but he's fine with it - he understands."