DAVID Meyler says the time was right to leave Sunderland after completing his switch to Hull City.
The paperwork on Meyler’s move to the KC Stadium was finalised last night after a minor snag to the negotiations over the weekend caused the switch to be delayed.
Meyler (right) has penned a three-and-a-half year deal with the promotion-chasing Tigers for an undisclosed fee – understood to total £1.5million – after a successful two-month spell on loan with Steve Bruce’s side.
The Republic of Ireland international started just one Premier League game in the last two years at Sunderland after suffering a second serious knee ligament injury and then being confined to the fringes by Martin O’Neill.
And after getting a taste of regular first-team football in the Championship, Meyler believes he needed to bring an end to his four-and-a-half year stay at the Stadium of Light.
Meyler, signed by Roy Keane from Cork City in the summer of 2008, said: “I have a lot of friends there at Sunderland and the fans were always great to me, a real touch of class.
“Sunderland is a special place, but the show must go on and I have to further my career and that will be away from Sunderland.
“Every footballer just wants to play every week, if you’re not injured you just want to be involved.
“It can be mentally frustrating and with the two injuries I have suffered, I’ve spent a lot of time on the sidelines and had to reflect a lot, so that has helped me with my mental toughness.
“To come back and be part of something, play every week, is all I ever wanted. But the opportunity never really arose at Sunderland.
“The opportunity came to move permanently and it was time for me to move on from Sunderland. This team looks like it has the potential and the ability to go into the Premier League and that’s where I want to be.”
Bruce played a key role in Meyler’s decision to drop down a division after immediately targeting the 23-year-old when he took charge at Hull during the summer. The former Sunderland boss was a big fan of Meyler during their time together on Wearside and the midfielder hopes the duo can face the Black Cats in the top flight next season.
“I have been fortunate to play in 20-odd games in the Premier League,” added Meyler, who made 31 appearances for the Black Cats.
“I have come here to help Hull get into the Premier League.
“It’s a great squad and the manager is brilliant with me. I have obviously worked with him before at Sunderland.
“The manager is a great character. He’s always laughing and spending time with us.”
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