Moyes makes big admission about his disastrous Sunderland spell

DavidMoyeshasspokenofhis regret at admitting he thought Sunderland would be in a relegation battle just two games into the season when he was in charge on Wearside.

Sunderland were eventually relegated that season, with Moyes still at the helm, but he admits being so honest so early on in his tenure did him no favours.

Moyes, working as a pundit over the weekend, said: “Well I wish I hadn’t said it, but I was trying to be as honest as I possibly could be to everybody. To say I don’t see how we are going to get through this season without a struggle.

“That didn’t mean we were going to get relegated but it meant that we were going to be in a relegation battle, but I regret saying it because it was negative and I wish I hadn’t said that.

“I think with me being honest, it probably made me disliked.”

Moyes’ ill-fated Sunderland reign only saw him win eight top-flight games out of 43 before he resigned as manager a day after the completion of the 2016-17 season.

Meanwhile, Sunderland’s third tier rivals Rotherham United are set to run the rule over an ex-Newcastle United prospect as they look to strengthen their League One hand.

It is understood that former Newcastle United winger Callum Roberts is heading down to the New York Stadium for a trial this week.

Roberts has scored seven goals in eight appearances for National League North side Blyth Spartans this season, managed by Lee Clark.

That run has included two hat-tricks in a week against Curzon Ashton and AFC Telford United.

The 22-year-old started his career with United but only made a total of two appearances in black and white – which included a goal in last season’s third round FA Cup tie against Blackburn Rovers.

Roberts has previously had loan spells with Gateshead, Kilmarnock and Colchester United. In the summer he was linked with a move to Panathinaikos, but that deal failed to materialise.

*West Ham have been dealt a major injury blow with the news that goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski has suffered a torn hip muscle.

West Ham's player of the year last season, faces at least a couple of months on the sidelines. Fabianski suffered the injury taking a goal-kick during West Ham's 2-2 draw at Bournemouth on Saturday.