Everything Alex Neil said about Jermain Defoe, Ross Stewart speculation, Nathan Broadhead and Alex Pritchard ahead of Gillingham test
and live on Freeview channel 276
The Black Cats boss spoke to the media this morning - and there was plenty on the agenda.
Nathan Broadhead and Alex Pritchard have returned to training following injury setbacks, while Neil was asked about Jermain Defoe’s retirement.
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RECAP: Alex Neil press conference
Key Events
- Sunderland will face relegation-threatened Gillingham at the Stadium of Light this weekend.
- Alex Neil will held his pre-match press conference earlier today.
- Sunderland are seventh in League One with seven games remaining.
- Alex Pritchard and Nathan Broadhead have returned to training following injury setbacks.
Thanks for joining us
That brings us to the end of the broadcast section of the press conference, but Neil has also spoken to the written press, including our SAFC writer Phil Smith.
You can find more from the Black Cats boss, as well as build-up to Saturday’s game over on the Sunderland AFC section of the Echo website.
See you soon.
Neil on interest in Ross Stewart
The simple fact is I’ve got the Sunderland fans, Sunderland community, Sunderland the club as a whole to concern with.
The fact is that Ross has done really well for us and the simple fact is if we can make progress and try to get ourselves out of this league then naturally players will want to be here and play here.
It really is as simple as that.
He’s our contracted player, he’s done well but he’s done well having been given a chance at this club, and I’m sure he will be respectful of that as well.
I’m not worrying about the remaining games thinking that if I don’t win them then Ross might see his future elsewhere, or any other player for that matter.
That doesn’t even cross my mind at this moment.
Neil on Gillingham
I think there has been a fundamental change there since Neil Harris has gone in.
I have probably watched five games. I was at the game on Saturday against Accrrington when they beat them, I watched them against Sheffield Wednesday when the drew 0-0.
I watched them against Ipswich, against us the last time we played them.
They are a difficult team to beat and haven’t conceded a lot of goals. Defensively they have been strong and they have a threat in transition on the counter attack.
They are the things we need to guard against and make sure we try and perform well to create as many opportunities as we can.
Neil on Pritchard and Broadhead
Alex and Nathan have been making really good progress this week and they’ve been out training on the grass,” Neil said.
We’ll make a late call on them in terms of Saturday’s game.
On McGeady’s fitness: Aiden is a question mark in terms of whether he features between now and the end of the season,” Neil admitted.
It’ll really be determined by how he goes in his rehab and how he shows up between now and the end of the season.
I’m hopeful that he’ll be able to get himself in some sort of semblance of managing to get on the pitch, but there’s certainly no pressure on him.
It’ll just be a case of whether he’s able to get himself up and running.