Sunderland

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Sunderland head coach Michael Beale has spoken to BBC Radio Newcastle commentator Nick Barnes ahead of the Championship clash with Hull City.

Beale says there's "no update" on any incoming or outgoing transfers although insists there are people working hard to get one or two in, has spoken about the squad players not getting into the starting eleven and tensions around the club.

He also reflects on the loss to Ipswich, the importance of a supportive atmosphere at the Stadium of Light and the options he has in central midfield.

You can listen to the full interview here.

Sunderland host Hull City this Friday night (20.00 GMT) hoping to bounce back after defeat to Ipswich.

A win could put the Black Cats back into the Championship play-off positions while another loss could see them drop as low as 12th, dependent on other results, at the end of the weekend.

Michael Beale's side did beat the Tigers just a few weeks ago in the reverse fixture on Boxing Day with Jack Clarke scoring the winner.

What are your predictions for Sunderland v Hull? Let us know here.

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Jermain Defoe's move to Sunderland in 2015 was fuelled by a desire to prove critics wrong.

Talking to Troy Deeney on their Football Firsts podcast, Defoe discussed times when he used negativity to spur him on. One example that the striker cites is during his time at Toronto FC when he says critics would suggest "he's done, he's gone to the MLS, he's chilling."

Following the stint in North America, Defoe returned to the Premier League with Sunderland. He says, "I think I needed that little bit of negativity to get me going because I was comfortable in Toronto. I signed a four year contract and that.

"I came back, and even when I came back to be fair, in my head I thought I've got nothing to prove because that's why I went [to Toronto] in the first place. Nothing to prove in the Premier League but then, when you start seeing things, it's time."

Defoe scored 34 goals in 87 appearances during his first stint at the Stadium of Light and is currently the ninth highest goal scorer in Premier League history with 162.

You can listen to the full podcast here.

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Liverpool are willing to sell 24-year-old goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher for £20m this summer and have identified 23-year-old Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson as his replacement. (Mirror), external

Want more transfer news including Amad Diallo and Jordan Henderson? Read Monday's full gossip column

We asked for your views on Sunderland's 2-1 loss to potential play-off rivals Ipswich.

Here are some of your comments:

Matthew: Everything fell apart when Beale took Abdoullah Ba off.

Claire: Just shows how utterly clueless Beal is. Taking Ba off who was having a good game, taking Pritchard off who was having a good game and there's always a chance he can create something. We had Jobe and Ekwah who had poor games but were kept on, until 80 odd minutes when he finally brings on a striker. Get out of our club, clueless!!

Dave: Good overall effort, however not starting without a centre forward is costing us points. Cannot understand the thought process. Move on to the next game.

Ray: Same old mistakes Sunderland make week in week out. We are our own worst enemies.

Michael: We don’t have a centre forward and it shows in most games. We rely too much on Jack Clarke to score. Tony Mowbray had the confidence of the players and the fans but not the ownership, who should be looking at the Director of Football. The new manager, Beale, will struggle to succeed.

Graham: Bellingham needs dropped. Ba was not exceptional - he does not know what he is doing and nor does anyone else. Ekwah needs reminded that opponents are allowed to tackle him. Play a centre forward. Prepare to replace Beale in the summer with someone who can lead a team.

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Dan Neil has spoken to BBC Radio Newcastle's Sunderland commentator Nick Barnes after the Black Cats' loss away at Ipswich.

You can listen to the full interview here.

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Black Cats boss Michael Beale has spoken to BBC Radio Newcastle's Sunderland commentator Nick Barnes after his side's loss to Ipswich at Portman Road.

You can listen to the full interview here.

Sunderland are out of the Championship play-off places after a 2-1 loss to Ipswich at Portman Road.

Michael Beale's side took the lead through the prolific Jack Clarke but The Tractor Boys came back through goals from Jackson and Chaplin.

What did you think of the performance and the result? Have your say here.

We asked for your pre-match predictions for Ipswich v Sunderland.

Here are some of your comments:

Jim: 2-1 Ipswich. Hope I'm wrong!

John: Sunderland to win 2-1.

Colin: Think Ipswich will win the game 2-0, they have a much better midfield than us at the moment.

Edward: Lack of a striker is costing us dearly and the performance of our defenders last week means we will need to step up several gears to come away with anything at Ipswich.

Kevin: Sunderland is a team l have followed for nearly 70 years, l am going for a 2-1 win.

Gene: We aren't playing well. Hopeless in the FA cup. Away at a tough and good team. Too much movement and speed for us. We like to play sideways and backwards and hope for magic from Jack Clarke.

BBC Radio Newcastle's Sunderland commentator Nick Barnes is ready to get back to league football as the Black Cats travel to Portman Road to face Ipswich.

You can listen to commentary from Nick alongside former Sunderland captain Gary Bennett on DAB and Freeview via BBC Radio Newcastle.

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Alex Pritchard has been awarded Sunderland's Player of the Month for December 2023.

The attacking midfielder has been a creative powerhouse for the Black Cats in recent games and has become the first name of the team sheet for many fans.

Pritchard proved pivotal in wins over play-off rivals West Brom and Leeds with three assists across the two games. His wonder goal against Preston was also a highlight of December for 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?

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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.