Steven Fletcher reveals chaotic deadline talks with Sam Allardyce before sealing his Marseille loan

Former Sunderland striker Steven Fletcher has lifted the lid on the dramatic way his deadline day loan move to Marseille came about, recalling a whirlwind exchange with Sam Allardyce inside the Academy of Light.

Fletcher arrived at Sunderland from Wolves in 2012 for £12million and made an explosive start, scoring five goals in his first five Premier League games and winning Player of the Month in September. He later featured in derby wins against Newcastle United, reached a League Cup final and enjoyed memorable highs before injuries disrupted his rhythm. By early 2016, with game time limited, French giants Marseille made their move.

Fletcher recalled to Fozcast: "I literally got changed into my gear and the assistant manager comes in and says 'Fletch, the gaffer wants you'. I know what it is for, and all the boys are like 'ohhhh'. So I went up, Big Sam sitting in his big chair behind the desk, he's like, 'You do not want to go there, do you?' I am like 'Of course I do'."

"He basically was like 'Listen, you are going to need to like give me till after training, I need to try and get a replacement'. And I am like, 'What do you need a replacement for? I have not played'. But you know what Big Sam is like, wheeling and dealing. So he is on the phone, then he's like, 'You do not need to train, just stay indoors'."

"It made me worse because I was just sitting at the window, just watching Big Sam on the phone the whole time hoping he was gonna. He did me a treat, he did. I have came in and his assistant has came in 'Fletch, gaffer wants you'. So I went in, I have sat down, he has just gone 'I cannot let you go'. My face has dropped. I am like 'Come on man'. He is like 'Fletch, I cannot get a replacement in'. I am like 'man'. He is like 'Sorry'."

"I have just got up, walked out, door shut. Two minutes, I am not even down the stairs yet, assistant 'Fletch, gaffer wants you'. I walked back up, he just does that, told me he is only done 'Go and say bye to the lads, big man, you can go'. So I am like, I will go over to him, give him like, he is like 'all the best and that'. 'Cheers, gaffer'."

Fletcher joined Marseille on loan for the remainder of the season, scoring in Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France, and later starting the French Cup final against PSG.

Régis Le Bris offers injury update

Régis Le Bris says Sunderland midfielder Habib Diarra is set to miss next weekend’s Wear-Tyne derby, with the head coach admitting the fixture against Newcastle United will likely come too soon for the 21-year-old.

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Diarra has been stepping up his recovery following groin surgery earlier this season and had been in a race to return in time for the derby. While progress has been positive, Le Bris believes the timing will work against him. The Frenchman did, however, offer encouragement elsewhere, revealing that Reinildo is expected to return after sitting out the 3-0 defeat to Manchester City with a groin issue. "For Rei, it could be okay but for Habib, it would be too short, I think," Le Bris said.

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Sunderland will also have Granit Xhaka and Noah Sadiki available for the derby after both avoided a booking at the Etihad. Le Bris moved to withdraw the pair late on, protecting them for Sunday’s clash, with Romaine Mundle and Simon Adingra introduced instead.

Le Bris later explained his decision not to turn to Dan Neil was to keep attacking momentum, with Lutsharel Geertruida pushed into midfield. "Yes, because we tried to stay in the game, to provoke something," he said. "I think with offensive players on the side, it was more or less the idea. It didn't work, but we tried."

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