Salut! Sunderland mostly hears from the club’s de facto programme editor Oscar Chamberlain when he is asking for contributions from one of our little team. So far this season, the matchday programme has included features by Pete Sixsmith, Malcolm Dawson, John McCormick and Monsieur Salut.
It is always a pleasure to be able to help out – but even more so when Oscar is bearing news of new signings.
So we have been delighted so far this week to learn of the arrivals of Grant Leadbitter, back at the club he has supported from boyhood, and – on loan from Celtic – a winger, Lewis Morgan, well known to the manager Jack Ross from St Mirren days.
Salut! Sunderland extends its customary warm welcome to both, and also to Jimmy Dunne, the young Irish defender who arrived on loan from Burnley in time for a useful debut at Scunthorpe.
Pete Sixsmith is planning to assess our January window ins and outs once all business has been done.
Leadbitter’s return is emphatically not, says Ross, based on sentiment. He is 33 but a model pro and a midfielder cqpable of scoring important goals. He said he was “absolutely delighted” to be back, adding: “When you’re a born and bred Sunderland fan and there’s an opportunity to come back… I was never going to say no.”
At safc.com, Oscar reports today’s completion of the Morgan loan signing until the end of the season.
‘Morgan began his career with Rangers before moving to St Mirren in 2013, and he played a starring role for Ross’s Buddies during the 2017-18 season, as the Paisley-based side clinched the Scottish Championship title.
After signing a four-year deal with Celtic in January 2018, the pacey winger moved to Glasgow six months later and made his debut for Brendan Rodgers’s side in Europe’s most-illustrious competition, the UEFA Champions League.
A standout 12 months also led to international acclaim, with Morgan making his Scotland debut in a friendly against Peru in May 2018.’
The 22-year-old player told the site: “My game is based around scoring and creating goals, but I obviously also try to work hard for the team, and that is the most important thing.
“Something special is happening at the club this season, and hopefully I can contribute to that.”
I liked Stewart Donald’s response when someone complained on Twitter about paying£4m for Will Grigg. He said he hoped it would reach £4m as that would mean we were in the Premier League again.
Will reckons he’s a future Spurs first teamer. Well thought of
If he does as well as Danny Rose I’ll be happy.
Kazaiah Sterling, a striker, on loan from Spurs. Anyone know much about him?
Oh Brian I bet you wish we had spent millions on players like N’Dong, Djilibodji, Rodwell, Alvarez, etc. Then we’d be guaranteed success!
Rodwell is becoming well liked at Blackburn. There’s already talk of giving him a permanent contract. He has made a difference and improved the team.
Our players this window all have 1 thing in common.
They cost nowt
Tyre kicker specials
If you’re frustrated you can always punch a police horse