Sunderland transfer latest: What Tony Mowbray said about potential signings, Corry Evans injury and Fulham
and live on Freeview channel 276
The Black Cats should be full of confidence following last weekend’s 2-0 win over Middlesbrough at the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland have also completed their first signing of the January transfer window following the arrival of Pierre Ekwah from West Ham on a permanent deal.
More signings are expected before next week’s deadline, with Sunderland keen to bolster their attacking options.
Here’s what was said at the Academy of Light as Mowbray spoke to the media:
RECAP: Tony Mowbray press conference
Key Events
- Sunderland face Fulham in the FA Cup this weekend.
- Black Cats boss Tony Mowbray will hold his pre-match press conference earlier today.
- Sunderland are hopeful of making more additions before the end of the transfer window.
Mowbray on the FA Cup and Fulham
“I think the history of every football club is crucially important.
“I’m very conscious of 50 years ago and we want to do well, but we have to put into context we are playing one of the form team from the Premier League at the moment.
“I know they have lost two really tight games, and I’ve watched both of those games and didn’t think they deserved to lose either of them.
“When I look at their squad and the players who haven’t played on a regular basis are still players that played every week in the Championship last year. Tom Cairney hasn’t been a regular starter, Harry Wilson, yet they tore the Championship to shreds last year and were way too good.
“I think whatever team they put out they will be really difficult to play against.”
Mowbray on Fulham
“Without knowing how much their investment has been this year, they have changed some players around.
“Palhinha the central midfield player, they have changed a few around, they have Willian who used to play for Arsenal and Chelsea, they have some experience there now.
“I think sometimes when you get promoted to the Premier League, as happened with West Brom when I was there, we only made one signing who had played in the Premier League and that West Brom team got relegated.
“The experience Fulham have got within in the Premier League is really helping them and their recruitment has been really good this year.”
Mowbray on team selection
“Whatever team we put out we hopefully will be competitive.
“We are trying to make them aware that these are a good football team who are really well coached and play positional football because technically they have very good footballers.
“It’s a real challenge for us and won’t be like a Championship game, it is almost like a different sport when you play the top teams who play professional football and move the ball quickly.
“It’s a great challenge to go and test ourselves and see how well we get on.
“Problems with the selection of the team, there is the odd one.
“Is Aji going to be fit? Niall Huggins hasn’t kicked a ball in a long time for us. Generally that left-back position is half an issue for us.
“Then there are some decisions about the rest of the team. They are not problems, they are decisions to be made.”
More to come...
That brings us to the end of the broadcast section of the press conference, but Mowbray has also spoken to the written press including our reporter Phil Smith.
You can find more from the Black Cats boss, as well as build-up to Saturday’s match over on the SAFC section of the Echo website.