Sunderland will face Everton in their final away game of the Premier League season on Sunday afternoon.
Everton manager David Moyes believes Sunderland’s ‘brave’ approach to the summer transfer window has provided a blueprint for all newly-promoted Premier League clubs.
The Black Cats will round off their away fixtures for what has been a memorable return to the top flight of English football with a visit to face their former manager and his Toffees side on Sunday afternoon and travel to Merseyside knowing a top half finish is still on the cards. That is all a far cry from the predictions of a relegation battle that were cast within hours of Sunderland’s Championship play-off final win against Sheffield United one year ago.
With the momentum of their Wembley triumph, the Stadium of Light hierarchy boosted Regis Le Bris’ squad with a sizeable spend in the summer transfer window as the likes of former Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka, highly-rated Dutch goalkeeper Robin Roefs and Ajax striker Brian Brobbey were all tempted to move to Wearside in preparation for the return to the top flight.
There have been a number of lifelong memories created throughout the season - but any thoughts of relegation have been fleeting at best as Le Bris’ men have been in the top half for the vast majority of the campaign. Moyes, who spent the 2016/17 season in charge of the Black Cats, revealed he has been impressed with what has been achieved at his old club this season as he prepares to meet them this weekend.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, the former Black Cats manager said: “They have done so well, the manager has done a brilliant job at Sunderland. I think the crowd there have been incredible, certainly at the Stadium of Light and they’ve done such a good job. They might be the blueprint for the teams coming up, you spend around £160million, it gives you every opportunity of staying in the Premier League. They’ve done it, the owners were brave enough to take that on and do it - and let’s be fair, they’ve been nowhere near the bottom of the league this year. They’ve been in a strong position all year.”
Chance
Seamus Coleman to leave Everton at the end of the season Photo: Getty Imagesplaceholder image
Seamus Coleman to leave Everton at the end of the season Photo: Getty Images | Getty Images
Moyes admitted two key players will miss Sunday’s meeting with the Black Cats - but stressed midfielder Idrissa Gueye has ‘an outside chance’ of being available for next weekend’s season-ending visit to Tottenham Hotspur.
When asked if the midfielder would be available, Moyes replied: “No, Idrissa is not fit for the game. He is back on the grass, he is just not available for this game, but there is an outside chance he could make the Tottenham game. We will see how that goes. Jarrad Branthwaite is still out as well.”
On the possibility of Coleman being handed a start just days after confirming he will retire later this month, Moyes responded: "Seamus wouldn't want me to say that because he wouldn't want me to think that way. He would only think it should be done if it's right and that's the way I see it, as well."
Continue Reading