Grigg stays after talks but must work hard
Phil Parkinson held talks with Will Grigg over his Sunderland future this week, with both agreeing that they would be happy for him to stay at the club.
Parkinson admits that Grigg could yet leave the club, but with interested parties unable to present a deal suitable for the Black Cats at the moment, it is increasingly unlikely. “Griggy is fine,” Parkinson said. “If the window closes and Griggy is with us, great, we get on with it and make sure he contributes from now until the end of the season. We'll have phonecalls about Griggy and we already have, because he has a proven track record.
“I couldn't say 100% that something wouldn't happen with Will, but at the moment it hasn't. We had a good chat this week, I said I'm happy and he's said he's happy, that if he's here he will fight for his place.
“Hewantstomakeacontribution. Equally, if something came up and we could get another player in, and it suited all parties, then that could happen.
“Will won't go somewhere he doesn't want to go, and we won't let him go unless we're happy with the cover as well.”
Parkinson insists that should he stay and get an opportunity, the team’s change of shape gives him a better chance of succeeding.
“With Griggy, I feel that the shape of the team and the way we play at the moment, he wouldn't be isolated,” he said.
“When I first came and in the games I watched, in the 4-2-3-1,thereisatendencythat happens. Griggy needs people around him. The shape at the moment he would have more bodies round him to take the weight off him in general play. But if he's still here, he's got to work hard to get into the team.”