Broadhead in demand ahead of new season
SUNDERLAND could face competition from Wigan Athletic as they bid to keep hold of former Burton Albion loanee Nathan Broadhead, it is rumoured.
Everton forward Broadhead spent a successful season on loan with the Black Cats, helping Alex Neil’s side win promotion to the Championship via the play-offs.
He scored 13 goals in 27 appearances.
Sunderland sporting director Kristjaan Speakman has confirmed that the club intend to hold talks with the Merseysiders in an effort to bring him back to Wearside next season.
He has another year left to run on his Everton deal.
But, according to website Liverpoolworld, Wigan, who also won promotion from League One, are considering making a move for the 24-year-old.
The reservation that the Latics are understood to hold concerning Broadhead is his injury record, as he spent a couple of spells on the sidelines with hamstring trouble during his season at Sunderland.
Those injuries, the worst of which he suffered just before Christmas, kept him out for three months.
That, of course, was the problem for Broadhead when he was on loan with Burton under Nigel Clough.
He exploded on to the scene with both goals within a couple of minutes in a 2-1 win away to Gillingham at the start of the season and scored another in the Carabao Cup win at home to Bournemouth.
But a series of niggling injuries kept him down to 22 appearances for Burton.
Broadhead has represented Wales at under-17, under-19, under-20, and under-21 levels and received his first senior call-up last month, although he later had to withdraw through injury.
Now that Wales have qualified for the World Cup finals, Broadhead will be hoping to be part of Rob Page’s squad.
He will need to be playing firstteam football in order to have a chance of booking a place on the plane to Qatar, which perhaps increases the chances of him seeking a move from Everton this summer – either on loan or on a permanent basis.
PLYMOUTH Argyle’s pre-season plans have been set back after vandals broke into Home Park and drove a tractor across the recently relaid pitch.
Argyle said “significant damage” had been caused by “mindless destruction” and police are now investigating.
A full re-seeding of the pitch was carried out yesterday as the club made a swift attempt to limit the impact of the break-in.
Their first home friendly is scheduled to be against Championship side Swansea
City on Tuesday, July 12.