Simon hails Gibson’s performance

Sunderland boss Simon Grayson praised Darron Gibson for his performance in last night’s 1-0 Carabao Cup win over Bury.

It was midfielder Gibson’s first appearance since his now infamous outburst that was captured on video where he criticised several of his Sunderland team-mates.

The video went viral, with Sunderland again making national headlines for the wrong reasons.

With Lee Cattermole rested ahead of the Sunday lunchtime Championship trip to Norwich City, Grayson handed Gibson a start and the former Everton man excelled.

Gibson was arguably Sunderland’s man of the match, though goal hero George Honeyman ran him close with a barnstorming secondhalf performance.

Grayson praise Sunderland’s midfield duo of Gibson and Didier Ndong and said the Republic of Ireland international answered some of the questions surrounding him.

“I was pleased with Darron in the midfield area, Didier too,” said Grayson. “Darron answered a few questions as well – maybe a few will have wondered why he was in the team. I thought he put on a performance.”

Sunderland have added seven new faces this summer and boss Grayson said the work goes on behind the scenes to bolster the squad further. When pressed on whether there were any updates, Grayson said: “No updates. There’s a lot going on behind the scenes. I am trying to focus on the games.

“Nothing new to report other than players wanting to come and us trying to sign them.”

Middlesbrough midfielder Grant Leadbitter has been linked with a return to Sunderland.

Grayson was giving little away but confirmed he had not spoken to Boro about Leadbitter.

“He (Grant) is part of a group of players being linked with us all the time,” added Grayson. “At this time, I have not spoken to Garry (Monk, the Boro boss). He is a Sunderland boy but he is just one of a number of names we are being linked with.”