Papy: Get ready to see real Black Cats at play
NEW BOY SAYS SIDE WILL BE STRONGER AFTER BREAK
PAPY Djilobodji believes fans will start to see more of the real Sunderland after September’s international break.
The Black Cats are at Southampton tomorrow but the next match after that does not come until September 12 as domestic football takes a break for World Cup and African Cup of Nations qualifiers.
They will hope to have a few debutants on show when David Moyes’ old side Everton visit the Stadium of Light next month butthey should also have players – including the influential Jan Kirchhoff – back from injury.
“When the injured players come back we will be stronger,” said centre-back Djilobodji who, despite being a Senegal international is unlikely to be away as he is out of favour with coach Aliou Cisse.
“The international break has come at a good time for us with the injuries.
“We can work more on the training ground to prepare for the next Premier League game after that.”
Sunderland have not won a league game in August since 2010 or one in September since 2013.
Yesterday, right-back Javi Manquillo became Sunderland’s fifth signing of the summer, following Djilobodji, Donald Love, Paddy McNair and Adnan Januzaj.
Moyes is targeting at least another three, the Wearsiders in talks with Sevilla midfielder Vicente Iborra.
If a deal for Iborra can be agreed, the 28-year-old might take some adjusting to Premier League life but, having played in the competition for Chelsea, Djilobodji had no such concerns.
He added: “When I came here I was ready to play and do my best for Sunderland and I am so happy to work with Sunderland and with the coach. Now I am looking forward to winning a lot of games.
“I want to do my job and if I can do well it is going to be good.
“I feel good and all the lads feel good.
“We need the players who are injured to come back and help the team and we will improve.
“I knew of Sunderland. I had friends who told me about them and I had watched their games.
“Now I am here I am going to fight for this club to win – we want to win every game and we are focused to do that.
“My first game (a 2-1 defeat at home to Middlesbrough) was not too good because we lost the game but we won the second (1-0 against Shrewsbury Town in Wednesday’s League Cup second-round tie.).
“Now we continue to fight with the coach, the fans and everyone in Sunderland and to continue like this.
“The first half (against Middlesbrough) we did not perform well, the second half was okay and now we continue to work again and look forward.
“It was a good game to make my debut, I think now we are looking forward.
“The Middlesbrough game is in the past, our focus is now on Southampton.
“It is nice I started with Sunderland. I did not have a chance at Chelsea, now I am going to show what I can do with Sunderland.”
Djilobodji feels his side can take confidence from their first win of the campaign, albeit they made hard work of seeing off League One Shrewsbury.
He said: “It was not a tough game, it was okay and we needed to win it for the confidence.
“They are in League One, we showed the difference, I think.
“It gives us a lot of confidence going into the Southampton game.”