Sunderland

We asked for your views on Sunderland's player of the month for December after the club announced Luke O'Nien, Dan Neil, Alex Pritchard and Jack Clarke as the nominees for their award.

Here are some of your comments:

Karl: Winger Jack Clarke gets my vote as his goals have been crucial with none of our strikers managing to find the net.

Phil: Dan Ballard.

Sam: Luke O'Nien - leads by example and has adapted to play in a role on the pitch that the team requires. Epitome of what Sunderland fans love.

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Mason Burstow is set to stay at Sunderland for the remainder of the season, Michael Beale has confirmed.

There has been speculation in recent weeks that the Black Cats may terminate Burstow's loan from Chelsea early as the young striker is yet to score on Wearside and has struggled for game time.

Michael Beale discussed the young striker with BBC Radio Newcastle's Sunderland commentator Nick Barnes: "Mason's going to stay here, I believe.

"So, you know, we've had those conversations and as it stands right now, Mason will be here until the end of the season."

"He's training well every day. He did start seven games, I think, under the previous coach and the team got good results albeit Mason never scored.

"The one thing you would say is that all four of the young strikers that come in, maybe have not contributed as much in terms of goals but they must have contributed because the team is sitting sixth in the league, which for us right now after 26 games, I think everyone would have took that at the start of the season."

You can hear the full interview here.

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Sunderland have revealed that Dennis Cirkin is to undergo surgery and will be out for 12 weeks as the Black Cats provided a first team injury update.

A club statement on their website reads: "Sunderland AFC defender Dennis Cirkin has undergone surgery on his left hamstring.

"The 21-year-old, who last featured in November, is now expected to be out of action for a minimum of 12 weeks, as he starts a rehabilitation programme at the Academy of Light.

"After suffering a significant knee injury during the festive period, Niall Huggins has also undergone surgery and the defender will miss at least the remainder of the campaign.

"Forward Bradley Dack is continuing his recovery from a hamstring injury, with Patrick Roberts expected to return from a calf injury next month."

How much of a loss is Cirkin? Have your say here.

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Roy Keane has spoken about transfers during his time at Sunderland on Gary Neville's 'Stick to Football' podcast which also featured Mackem Jill Scott.

The former Black Cats boss revealed how players would refuse to move to "bleak" Sunderland but praised Dwight Yorke who agreed to sign "because he was a footballing person."

Keane said: “I go back to it. It’s the timing or the fit. Some days a player can be really good at a club and you have done your homework. Then he comes in and it just doesn’t happen. They don’t settle in the area.

"I go back to my own experience signing [players for] Sunderland. People would say, ‘Oh, it’s bleak.’

"It’s a lovely place. It is. If you’re a footballing person, Sunderland’s a great club. Nicest people you’ll ever meet. But, yeah, there’s a family decision for people and players have said to me they’ve turned down Sunderland.

"[Dwight] Yorke was at Sydney. But I knew Yorkey loved his football. He liked partying but I knew he loved his football.

"He was over in Sydney. He’s a franchise player. He said, ‘I’ve got a penthouse in Sydney harbour.’ Probably had a Lamborghini then. He said, ‘You want me to come back? You want me to move to Sunderland?’

"I went, ‘That’s exactly what I want you to do.’ And honestly I knew. He went, ‘Alright.’ I said, ‘Big challenge Yorkey. Come and get Sunderland up.’

"And Yorkey was brilliant but he was a footballing person. I give Yorkey that. He loved his football.

"He was in Sydney but proper football people would look at Sunderland as a great club but other players, definitely, they’ve told me, ‘My wife doesn’t, my family don’t want to move to Sunderland.’

"Okay, that’s fair enough, it’s part of the package."

We asked for your views on the Mags taking their team photo on the pitch at the Stadium of Light after their Wear-Tyne derby FA Cup third round win.

Here are some of your comments:

Finlay: Poor sportsmanship.

Karl: I am a Sunderland fan and was at the derby game and thought Newcastle absolutely embarrassed themselves taking a team photo at the end of the match.

Amit: If the photo is taken with only their supporters then it should be fine. Provocation of the opposition is not fine. Also Newcastle's away record is atrocious this season so they probably got carried away by the occasion.

Lee: Shows the desperation of a deluded club that's spent a decade crying about Mike Ashley and supposedly being a massive club that celebrate like they've won the FA Cup, not a third round tie against a Championship team. Pathetic really.

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Elliot Embleton’s loan at Derby County has now formally ended.

A statement on the club website reads: "Sunderland AFC confirms that Elliot Embleton’s loan spell at Derby County has now concluded."

"The midfielder joined the Rams in September, but after suffering a thigh injury after two games, he underwent surgery before returning to Wearside to complete his rehabilitation.

"With the January transfer window now open, Embleton has formally returned to the Club as he continues his comeback to full fitness."

The 24-year-old from Durham scored the opener in Sunderland's 2022 League One play-off final win over Wycombe and has made 75 appearances for the Black Cats since his debut in 2017.

Would you like to see Embo back in the first team after his recovery? Or another loan deal to further his development?

Sunderland travel to Portman Road looking to extend their three-game-unbeaten league record as they face promotion pushing Ipswich.

Michael Beale's side suffered defeat in their last game, the FA Cup third round Wear-Tyne derby, but have been impressive against top Championship sides this season.

The Black Cats have picked up recent wins over Hull, Leeds and West Brom alongside a demolition of Southampton earlier in the campaign.

Can they pick up a victory over another potential play-off rival?

Give us your predictions and pre-match thoughts here.

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Sunderland have announced their Player of the Month nominees for December.

Captain Luke O'Nien, local lad Dan Neil, veteran Alex Pritchard and star man Jack Clarke are the four players in the running for the award.

In December Michael Beale replaced Tony Mowbray as head coach and Mike Dodds was in temporary charge for three games as interim boss.

The Black Cats picked up wins against West Brom, Leeds, Hull and Preston alongside draws with Millwall and Rotherham but did lose to Bristol City and Coventry.

Who do you think was Sunderland's best player in December, and why?

Image source, Blyth Spartans

Harry Gardiner made an impressive debut on-loan at Blyth Spartans this past weekend.

The young striker scored twice to help Blyth to a 3-1 win against Bishop's Stortford. As a result, Gardiner earned a place in the National League North's team of the week.

Before his loan to the Northumberland side, the 20-year-old had been in fine form for Sunderland's under-21s with five goals in eight Premier League 2 appearances.

The future looks bright for Gardiner and many will be keeping tabs on Black Cats' academy prospect during this loan spell as a potential future first team striker.

After Sunderland's 3-0 loss in the FA Cup third round Wear-Tyne derby, the Mags took their infamous team photo. Unlike every other team photo after a win since Eddie Howe took charge on Tyneside, the pic wasn't taken in the dressing room but on the pitch at the Stadium of Light.

Former Black Cats striker Marco Gabbiadini branded the on-pitch photo "disrespectful" on BBC Radio Newcastle's Total Sport.

“Having your team photo for the flipping third round of the FA Cup tie, that was really disappointing. I just thought it showed a real lack of class.

"After a really good performance and a good result, go and do it in the dressing room like you normally do. It could have caused bother in the stands. I thought it was really poor.

“It’s a rivalry. It’s a massive rivalry. I understand. Some of the stuff that’s gone on this week, we’ve all been reading about silly little things. You can take it or leave it.

"A lot of it is done by people who have nothing to do with or are anywhere near the teams or the clubs, it’s mischievous fans, people who just like to cause a bit of argy-bargy but for the team and the management to go on the field and do that, I thought was a mistake. I doubt they’ll ever do it again.”

What did you think of Newcastle taking their team photo on the Stadium of Light pitch? Have your say here.

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Former Sunderland head coach Tony Mowbray has been announced as the new manager of Birmingham City.

Mowbray who was sacked by the Black Cats on 4 December takes over from Wayne Rooney at the Midlands club on a two-and-a-half year deal.

Have your say on Sunderland's ex-boss joining another Championship club here.

We asked for your opinions on Sunderland's loss to Newcastle in the FA Cup third round Wear-Tyne derby.

Here are some of your comments:

Edward: Honestly not surprised by the result. Disappointed by the performance. Shows we are not ready for the Premier League yet. Pritchard was the shining light in a disappointing day.

Milo: Scoreline flattered the Mags. That said we looked flat. Pritchard and O'Nien the only standouts whilst Hume looked out of his depth.

Claire: Most Sunderland fans weren't expecting a win today. However, the lack of passion from the players was really disappointing. Then the lack of subs or change up was a total mess.

Richard: Boys against men, not only on the field, but also in the dugouts. Failure by Beale to stop the playing out from the back even though Newcastle pressed Patterson throughout led to second goal. Clarke should have switched to right and a defender brought on to man-mark Trippier who was allowed to play as a winger and produce his trademark crosses.

Colin: We were 3rd best all game. Why do we persist in playing out from the back? We live dangerously in the league doing this so it was footballing suicide against a Premier League team. A lack of quality and experience exposed us for what we are, a team that is going nowhere. Changes are needed and fast.

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Luke O'Nien has spoken to BBC Radio Newcastle's Sunderland commmentator Nick Barnes following the 3-0 loss in the Wear-Tyne derby.

The Black Cats captain shared his disappointment in the defeat, his awe at the atmosphere and his belief that the team will learn from the experience.

You can listen to the full interview here.

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Sunderland head coach Michael Beale believes honest reflection is key following his side's defeat in the Wear-Tyne derby.

The Black Cats boss has spoken to BBC Radio Newcastle's Sunderland commentator Nick Barnes after the FA Cup exit.

Listen to full interview here.

Sunderland suffered defeat in the Wear-Tyne derby and are out of the FA Cup after the 3-0 loss to Newcastle.

The Magpies piled on the pressure from the outset and eventually found the breakthrough 10 minutes before half-time, when Sunderland defender Dan Ballard sliced Joelinton's cross into the back of his own net.

It took less than a minute after the restart for Newcastle to take full control of the first Wear-Tyne derby since 2016, when Miguel Almiron robbed the ball from Pierre Ekwah before squaring it for Alexander Isak to convert into an open net.

Isak grabbed his second from the penalty spot in the final minute, after Anthony Gordon was brought down in the box by Ballard.

Ekwah and Alex Pritchard were both denied by impressive saves from the Slovakia international to ensure Newcastle recorded their first win at the Stadium of Light since 2011.

Were you at the Stadium of Light or following the match from elsewhere?

Sunderland supporters - submit your post-match thoughts here.