SUNDERLAND 10 YEARS AGO: Nyatanga completes Sunderland move, Stoke still keen on Delap

NYATANGA COMPLETES CATS MOVE:

Loan switch for defender

SUNDERLAND today signed Derby County centre-half Lewin Nyatanga on loan until January.

 And that means the teenage Welsh international could come into contention for the squad due to face Barnsley on Saturday.

 Nyatanga was the youngest ever Welsh Under 21 international and youngest ever Welsh senior international when he made his debut for his country this year.

 And he was also voted Young Player of the Year last season by County fans as well as Championship Apprentice of the Year.

 But the youngster has found games harder to come by at Pride Park this season and County boss believes a move would be in the interests of the 18-year-old.

 Whether the move is open to becoming a permanent one in January is not yet clear.

 County boss Billy Davies confirmed that Sunderland had been given permission to speak to the youngster about a short-term stay earlier this week.

 He said: “Sunderland’s interest in Lewin came up when we were doing the loan deal to bring Jon Stead to Derby.

 “They want to have a look at him and he needs to get a few games under this belt.

 “I think the deal will suit both parties at this time. The form of Michael Johnson is making it difficult for Lewin to get a game for us as the left-sided player in the centre of defence.”

 The teenager has made only four starts this season and has not figured in the last four matches.

 But with centre-halves Kenny Cunningham and Steve Caldwell still sidelined at Sunderland, he gives Roy Keane another option.

 Nyatanga is a regular starter for the Welsh senior side and his possible exit will surprise fans of the East Midlands club because Derby do have suspension and injury concerns.

 Nyatanga recently beat off Gareth Bale and Joe Ledley to be names Welsh Young Player of the Year, and gained inspiration from previous winners like James Collins and Robert Earnshaw.

 He said: “They both went on to play in the Premiership. Hopefully, I can follow in their footsteps and go on to play at the highest level.!

STOKE STAND BY RORY:

STOKE CITY say they will push on to complete a permanent deal for on-loan midfielder Rory Delap, despite the player breaking his leg in Tuesday night’s home game with Sunderland.

 Delap yesterday had a two-and-a-half operation at North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary on a right leg broken in two places. He is not expected to play again this season.

 He was only a week into a three-month loan spell at the Potters and the Midlands club could have been forgiven for looking at ways of reducing their commitment to a player who is expected to have played only one game for them before the start of the next campaign.

 But Stoke say they won’t back out of the deal having taken Delap on loan from Sunderland on the understanding they would make the move permanent. City could have tried to send Delap back tot he Black Cats as Football League rules only allow transfers during the January window.

 However, City’s chief executive Tony Scholes said: “We signed Rory on an emergency loan, but with a very clear intent and gentleman’s agreement to make the deal permanent. Rory got injured wearing our shirt and representing this club. We owe it to him and his family to stand by him.