Grigg striving to shrug off rough spell and help Black Cats rise

Testing time: Will Grigg has yet to fire with the Black Cats

NORTHERN Ireland international Will Grigg isn’t one to give up.

In 18 months at Sunderland, the 29-year-old has scored just eight goals and so far failed in his aim of being the man to fire the Black Cats back into the Championship.

Last term brought only increased frustrations as Grigg played just three minutes of league football after the turn of the year under Phil Parkinson, who replaced Jack Ross as manager in October.

The arrival of an international team-mate in January didn’t help his case, but with Kyle Lafferty’s short-term deal not renewed and Grigg still having two years to run on his own contract, he’s intent on fulfilling his original objective of promotion.

“Until I’m told otherwise, I’m a Sunderland player,” he said.

“It’s obviously a massive club and I want to achieve what I came here for.”

Grigg hasn’t enjoyed any better fortunes at international level, having last featured for Northern Ireland in October 2018.

If he’s going to stake any sort of claim for a recall under new boss Ian Baraclough, he knows he must first regain his place as a Sunderland starter.

“It’s been difficult,” he said of his shut-out at club level. “I didn’t play as well as I hoped and then the change in style hasn’t necessarily benefited me.

“To be part of a League One squad and not even make the bench or be on the bench and not used, it’s something I’ve found really frustrating. I’d like to think at League One level I’d play in any team and score goals, regardless of what team I’m in.

“It’s personally been very difficult.”