Nyron excited about future at Cats

May 15 2008 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

NYRON Nosworthy is looking forward to an exciting summer after finally repairing the damage to his footballing reputation.

The Brixton-born defender was part of the Sunderland squad relegated from the Premier League with a then-record low 15 points two years ago. Now his place is under threat with manager Roy Keane eyeing a raft of summer signings. But it is not in Nosworthy nature to worry about such things and instead he is “excited” about his club’s planned spree.

“It will be exciting to look on from home or abroad at what is going on with new players,” said Nosworthy, a free transfer signing from Gillingham three years ago. “We are looking forward to next season and have to be relaxed about whatever happens this summer.” Derby County’s ineptitude in 2007-08 means Nosworthy is no longer part of the worst squad in Premier League history but nevertheless the 27-year-old felt he needed to prove a point by avoiding relegation.

“Given what it was like two years ago, I definitely needed last season to wipe the slate clean,” he said. “We have struggled at times but we have proved a lot of people wrong with our performances.

“We have bounced back from defeats and that has surprised people. There have been lows but we have preserved Premier League status and that makes it a successful season.” Reading were relegated last season after a successful debut campaign in the division, something Wigan Athletic almost did 12 months earlier. Nosworthy believes this term can be the basis for his side to progress, however.

“A lot of teams that come up struggle and Birmingham and Derby have gone straight back down,” he noted. “We have been in the relegation fight all season. But now we have stayed up, I think this season will help.

“We are building gradually. Maybe that’s the best way. We made a few signings over the season and last summer, but overall the team that has played was the team that came up from the Championship. Hopefully we will build on that and make it into the top 10.

“We need that little bit more quality in midfield, in defence and up front. That will make no difference to the players already here, that just means the competition will have increased.”

Nosworthy’s central defensive partner Jonny Evans has no idea if he will be one of the new signings after ending his second loan from Manchester United. “You are not really in control of anything when you are under contract,” said the Northern Ireland international. If any club wants to bid for me, it is down to them and Man United to decide what happens.”

The Black Cats have also been linked with Bolton Wanderers’ Iranian midfielder Andranik Teymourian and Reading’s £3.5m-rated England left-back Nicky Shorey. “I have been approached by two English Premier League sides, one from the Bundesliga, and one in Spain. But I will not make a decision until all the European leagues are finished,” £3m-rated Teymourian is quoted as saying.

Sunderland could also be back in for Shorey’s club-mate Stephen Hunt, who they tried to sign in January. The winger, though, has no plans to force the issue.

“I’m contracted to Reading and, until I’m told otherwise, it doesn’t make a blind bit of difference,” Hunt said. “The gaffer (Steve Coppell) has been very good to me so it would be disrespectful to say anything else. I’m not going to do a Jermain Defoe and say I’m going.”

Steve Sidwell’s agent says his client is happy at Chelsea but would “consider his options” if the Blues accepted a bid. Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Everton are the most likely to make an offer.