Impact target won't harm Cats plans

Jul 10 2009 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

“There’s certainly a great excitement around the place and, after all the talking we have been doing for the last six weeks, it’s all now down to the action. The players coming back is a big thing. The place is a hive of activity.”

As well as significant new arrivals, Sunderland are preparing the way for surprising departures.

Dean Whitehead has been told he can leave the Stadium of Light and will talk terms with Ipswich over the next few days, while Daryl Murphy is also set to discuss a reunion with Roy Keane.

However The Journal understands there is nothing in reports linking Blackburn Rovers with Kenwyne Jones, and speculation surrounding the future of Danny Collins and Phil Bardsley appears premature.

Collins certainly signaled his desire to stay at Sunderland after returning for pre-season training yesterday.

“Everyone is now fighting from scratch for a place in the first team at the start of the season,” he said.

“How much he knows about us, you just don’t know. He’ll obviously be wanting to bring in his own players so we’ve all got to work hard and show him we’re ready.”

Bruce hopes to have those new signings in before the start of the pre-season campaign next week as he looks to build a squad capable of making an impact in the top half of the top flight.

Reflecting on the aims of the season, Quinn said he wants Sunderland’s Premier League rivals to recognise that the Black Cats are a force to be reckoned with.

“You try not to set targets because you usually fall down if you do,” he said.

“We want to see last-minute goals again. We need to get our ‘never say die’ attitude back. In general we need to up the tempo a bit and we need people to say we’re back.

“It would be wrong even to stand still this season. We have got to make this an established Premier League club.”