Players still have to show commitment to Cats, insists boss

SUNDERLAND’S failing squad is set to break up this summer, but boss David Moyes insists the players must give their all for the remainder of the season.

The Black Cats are all-but certain to be relegated to the Championship and their fate will be sealed today if Hull City secure a better result at Southampton than Sunderland manage at home to Bournemouth.

And that will be the catalyst for a mass exodus, with up to half the current squad likely to leave as contracts come to an end, loan players return to their parent clubs, and other players look to move on.

At various times this season there has been talk of certain players eyeing up summer transfers and in recent weeks agents have begun to work behind the scenes with a view to shopping their clients around.

But Moyes says all at the club must show total commitment to the cause for the final five games.

“The important thing is that the players who are here, are here on the pitch,” he said.

“If they think there they have something better than this, then they have to show Sunderland supporters and me, and everyone else who is watching, that they are here with us and not thinking about being somewhere else at this present time.” While Sunderland have long since accepted that relegation is now inevitable, as long as the Black Cats still have a mathematical chance of avoiding the drop Moyes cannot be seen to concede defeat in the relegation battle. He said: “You wouldn’t expect me to say anything else, as long as we have a chance.

“We have to strike a balance with being realistic, too.”