O´Neill vows success at struggling Sunderland

Martin O’Neill has promised to bring Sunderland out of their recent run of poor form after being appointed manager to replace Steve Bruce.

The Northern Irishman watched the Black Cats score the opening goal but ultimately lose 2-1 away at Wolves in the Premier League on Sunday, when Sebastian Larsson’s penalty to make it 2-0 was saved and the home side scored soon after.

The defeat put them a point away from them relegation zone, having scored just 16 goals after 14 matches.

The former Leicester, Celtic and Aston Villa manager appeared to relish the challenge of turning things around at the Stadium of Light.

“I don’t think my appetite for the game has changed at all. I’ve always had a great enthusiasm for it and I feel as though I’m ready to come back,” he said.

He will also have endeared himself to the fans when he revealed: “Sunderland was my favourite team as a boy. You were either Celtic or Rangers at my school, but most of the boys took an English team too. I took Sunderland. I never regretted it.”

“That aside, they are a massive club, they are very passionate up there and I’d love to do well.”

Hopes had been raised over the summer transfer window when the proceeds from the sale of Jordan Henderson were reinvested in a number of transfers, but the Black Cats have since been left short up front.

Caretaker manager Eric Black summed up the problems faced by the Wearside club.

“The obvious issue is that we could do with someone to score a goal. We need to find the back of the net more regularly,” he said.

England international striker Darren Bent moved to Aston Villa in a deal worth up to 24 million pounds in January, while the squad took a big hit when first-choice striker Asamoah Gyan moved on-loan to United Arab Emirates club Al Ain with the window for signing new players already closed.

With Danny Welbeck having returned from his loan spell to Manchester United and Fraizer Campbell and Connor Wickham struck down by knee injuries, Sunderland are left with just Nicklas Bendtner, who has scored just two goals this season, and Premier League debutant Ji Dong-Won.

But O’Neill moved to ease the fans’ worries.

“All I can say, without promising the earth, moon and stars is I will do my utmost to bring a bit of success to Sunderland,” he said.