Sunderland eye out of favour PSG man

Name one side that are way too reliant on one striker for all their goals. No, apart from Liverpool. Ok not Man United either. Swansea? Michu isn’t even really a striker!

Alright, so it looks as if there’s quite a few premiership clubs all relying on their top forward to grab all the goals, but one who stands out from the rest is Sunderland’s summer signing, Steven Fletcher.

Therefore reports in the Daily Mirror claiming that Martin O’Neil is on red alert at the possibility of signing a new striker make rather a lot of sense. The man in question is PSG forward Guillaume Hoarau who has apparently been told by his club that he free to leave in January.

To say The Black Cats alternative goal-scoring options to Fletcher are underwhelming is something of an understatement. Fraizier Campbell has just one goal for the season whilst Louis Saha, only picked up in January, has never really looked much of a threat in Sunderland colours and finds himself yet to get on the score-sheet.

Both Stephane Sessegnon and Adam Johnson have chipped in with three apiece but neither are out and out strikers who can be relied on for a considerable haul across a whole season. However if Hoarau can strike up an understanding with Fletcher he could be just the guy to lift a little of the goal-scoring burden from O’Neil’s main man. Hoarau is a big, strong forward, standing at 6ft4in tall with a decent record in France who certainly has the potential to trouble English defences.

Even if Sunderland do persist with a solitary striker they are in dire need of some better quality back up if Fletcher does need a rest or picks up a knock, besides, a little competition is never a bad thing. Complacency could easily creep into Fletcher’s game if he takes a look over to the bench and can only spot Campbell or Saha gazing forlornly back.

Jack Johnson

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