Sign Ruiter NOW; Vaughan needs a goal: Things we learned from Scunthorpe 0 Sunderland 0

Sign Ruiter!

Dutch trialist Robbin Ruiter has been absolutely fantastic in the two games that he’s played in a Sunderland shirt so far and I honestly feel that we’d be missing a trick if we didn’t sign him on a permanent deal this summer.

Though the signing of Jason Steele from Blackburn yesterday evening may lessen the need for us to bring in another ‘keeper, Ruiter has shown in just two games that he’s more than capable between the sticks and with there being no fee involved, I feel it would be a sensible piece of business.

We need competition for places if we are going to amount to anything in the Championship and having Ruiter, along with Steele, would give us plenty to mull over as we head into the new season.

If we don’t sign him someone else most certainly will.

Galloway out of position?

I’m not sure if its the lack of fitness or the fact he’s more suited through the middle than at left back, but Brendan Galloway appeared to struggle slightly yesterday evening.

Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images

We can’t read too much into pre-season performances but having seen Galloway at left back I can’t help but feel he looks more like a centre half - but what do I know?

Here’s hoping that he puts a good performance in this Saturday against Celtic. Bryan Oviedo’s injury means that the left-back spot is his to take if he wants it, and a more assured performance at the weekend against tough opposition will give him a huge confidence boost.

Vaughan needs a goal

James Vaughan looks like a very handy forward and he grafts his knackers off, but there’s no hiding from the fact that he hasn’t scored yet in pre-season and if we are going into the season with him as our main man it would be beneficial if he could get one or two against Celtic on Saturday.

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It’s through no fault of his own, mind. He never stops running and working for the team and the majority of the balls into him are long and high. Perhaps in a more central role - with the ball played down on the floor - we’ll see more of what Vaughan is about. He didn’t score 24 goals last season because he’s a poor finisher!

McGeady will improve

I’m looking forward to seeing what Aiden McGeady can do with better players around him. We didn’t see a great deal from the Irishman in yesterday’s game but the supply into him was poor and by the time our better midfielders entered the field he was withdrawn - understandable really seeing as it was his first game since playing last season for Preston.

In the event of Khazri or Lens (or both) leaving this summer we’ll be relying upon McGeady as the source of most of our creativity from midfield. With energetic players like Ndong and Cattermole behind him he’ll be afforded the time and space that he needs to devastate teams.

Here’s hoping that he starts on Saturday against his former club and gives the Stadium of Light its first glimpse of his capabilities with the ball at his feet.