Ji still in O´Neill´s plans

Sunderland manager Martin O’Neill says South Korean Ji Dong-Won is in contention for a first-team place despite his Olympic commitments.

Striker Ji is part of South Korea’s squad for the men’s Under-23 football competition at the London Games, which begins next Thursday.

Ji’s inclusion in the Olympic squad means he will miss much of Sunderland’s pre-season campaign, including the club’s Peace Cup friendly tournament in South Korea.

O’Neill told Goal.com the former Chunnam Dragons man will get his opportunities to push for a regular run when he returns to the club after the Olympics.

“I’ll give him chances after he comes back from the Olympics, we’ll have more games after (the) Peace Cup,” O’Neill said.

The Sunderland manager also praised the young Korean’s technical ability but said he needs to improve physically to compete in the tough English Premier League.

“He’s technically fantastic but physically needs to be better for Premier League,” O’Neill said.

The Northern Irishman also said the decision to let Ji compete at the Olympics was ‘difficult’, suggesting participation in the Peace Cup might have been more beneficial for his development with Sunderland.

“It was difficult but I allowed it because it’s great honour for him,” O’Neill said.

“I think it would have been good for him to participate in the Peace Cup, he could have got cheers in front of his home fans.”

Sunderland play K-League club Seongnam Ilhwa in the Peace Cup on Thursday, while Hamburg of the Bundesliga and Eredivisie side Groningen will also compete in the tournament.