Danny Graham's first words after returning to Sunderland as he discusses his past spell, fitness and on-field targets

The striker signed a one-year deal on Wearside on Monday evening after spending part of pre-season training with Phil Parkinson’s side.

And the move for the 35-year-old got plenty of fans talking given the striker’s chequered history with the Black Cats.

But in his first interview after putting pen to paper, Graham addressed the concerns of supporters head on – and revealed why he found it difficult to turn down a return to his former club.

The past

Graham, of course, has previously turned out for the Black Cats – joining the club in January 2013 after a lengthy pursuit.

A £5million purchase, the striker netted only once during three years at the Stadium of Light while spending several stints out on loan.

And that past isn’t being ignored by Graham, who is the first to admit that things did not work out as either party had planned.

“To be brutally honest, it didn't work out,” he told safc.com

“It was a tough time for me in my football career. I don't know why it didn't work out, whatever reason, but for me that's gone.

“I'm in a different place, Sunderland as a football club is in a different place, and I've come back to try and help get us out the league.”

The move

After the departures of Kyle Lafferty, Duncan Watmore and – for the time being, at least – Benji Kimpioka, a striker was a key summer priority for Phil Parkinson.

And while the deal to bring Graham to the club has proven to be one of the last ones completed, interest has been bubbling away for a number of months.

"When the season finished at Blackburn, Phil Parkinson was pretty much on the phone straight away,” explains Graham.

“There was a lot of negotiating and back and forward, so I'm pleased it's finally done and I'm looking forward to having a good season.”

Graham is only too aware of how his move could be interpreted by some.

His history with the club and age have all been brought up in the debate over the merits of this signing.

Graham, though, is keen to block out the noise and concentrate on righting the wrongs of his first spell on Wearside – something he admits was a driving force behind making the move.

“That was a big part of it,” admits the striker.

“To come back and get this football club out of this league is the main priority.

“I feel I can help. There's a lot of people who will say he's 35, he's this, he's that. That's fine, they can talk.

“I'm here and I'm looking to do well and score the goals to fire us back up.”

The future

With his eyes now firmly on the future, Graham is keen to hit the ground running.

Indeed, he admits he is ‘dying’ to pull on the shirt once more – and is targeting an end to his Stadium of Light drought, given his only goal for the club came away from home.

He could have an immediate opportunity to do just that with the EFL Trophy tie against Aston Villa under-21s on the horizon, with the striker insisting he is ready for match action despite a stop-start pre-season.

“I'm fit and raring to go,” he said.

“Hopefully I can be involved tomorrow and get some minutes and gradually build it up.

“I can't wait - and hopefully I can score at the Stadium of Light this time.

“I'm dying to pull on the shirt again, dying to do well for this football club and make sure we all pull in the right direction.”

Graham is also hoping to make an impact off the field, with the Sunderland coaching staff hoping his experience can rub-off on some of the younger members of the first-team group.

So what expectations has Parkinson placed upon his latest recruit?

“On the pitch, to score goals and fire us up the league.

“Off the pitch, it's to help the young lads. There's a lot of young boys at this football club with great potential so hopefully I can pass on and give them some good advice and help them come along and have good seasons.”

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