Roker Roundup: Another Sunderland owner joins Twitter & former trialist finds himself a club

Loan roundup

Luke Molyneux was the match winner for Gateshead at the weekend as they beat Maidstone 3-2 away from home.

The Sunderland youngster gave the Heed the lead with a terrific strike from outside the box. Robbie Tinkler doubled Gateshead’s advantage just after the half-hour mark and when Molyneux intercepted the ball in the 56th minute, strode into the box and made it 3-0, it looked like the visitors would have an easy win.

That was not to be as two late Maidstone goals gave what should have been a comfortable win a nervy end but Gateshead held on for the victory.

Molyneux made the Non-League Paper’s team of the day and the National League team of the weekend the after his performance, afterwards told the club’s official website that he feels he has a bit of momentum now:

I definitely feel like I’m getting better by the game here, I’m starting to get a bit of momentum now and starting to show people what I’m really like and what I can do.

Now we’ve got two big games against Hartlepool coming up and hopefully I can stay in the team and keep doing well for those matches and help us pick up six points.

Grimsby Town won 4-0 at home to Notts County with Elliot Embleton playing well once again, the Sunderland loanee also picked up an assist when his corner was headed home by Harry Davis.

Embleton’s loan is set to end in the New Year and earlier today Jack Ross said the 19-year-old is still in his thoughts, as he decides how to shape his squad in January:

There are a couple of other things that I have been thinking about. Loan players like Elliot [Embleton] and others, what we do with him in the future.

Max Stryjek’s loan spell with Eastleigh has now ended and it ended on a winning note as the Spitfires beat Harrogate Town 2-1 in the National League. The Polish goalkeeper is set to spend Christmas in his homeland before rejoining Sunderland in the New Year to compete with Robbin Ruiter as Sunderland’s second choice goalkeeper and he spoke to Eastleigh’s YouTube channel to discuss his time at the club:

Andrew Nelson and Williams Kokolo both started in Darlington’s entertaining 3-3 draw at Altrincham and Nelson followed up his two goal debut by setting up the second and third goals for his side but Altrincham hit back to earn a point.

Lamine Kone’s fine form with Strasbourg continued as he helped his side to a 2-0 home win over Patrick Vieira’s Nice, as well as a solid defensive performance, the Ivorian scored Strasbourg’s second goal:

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Borini attracting interest

As one former Sunderland player may be heading to Serie A, with Patrick van Aanholt being linked with Roma, another may be on the way out.

According to reports in Italy, Fabio Borini is being targeted by Chinese sides ahead of the January transfer window.

The report claims Shenzen FC have a particular interest in the Italian, who completed a £5m permanent move to the San Siro in the summer after a year-long loan deal from Sunderland, and have already been in contact with the player’s agent.

A fee of €15m has been mooted and just like the potential van Aanholt move, it’s unlikely the previous Sunderland regime added a sell-on clause which would see the club benefit from a future big money move.

Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images

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Former trialist joins Hibs

Bognor Regis midfielder Tommy Block had a trial spell at Sunderland in the summer and the youngster spoke to Roker Report and discussed his excitement about joining the club on trial.

Unfortunately for Block, no deal was forthcoming but he didn’t have to wait too long to make the step up into professional football as the 18-year-old has signed a deal with Scottish Premiership side Hibernian.

Block had also been on trial with the Easter Road side and did enough to earn a full time deal, with the player saying it is just the start for him:

Having spent time with Hibs, I know it’s the right move for me.

But this is just the beginning. Now I need to work harder than I can ever imagine, listen, learn and place my trust in Hibs to help me to develop and be the best player I can become.

Bognor.news

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Sartori joins Twitter

Sunderland chairman Stewart Donald has been a regular presence on Twitter since he took over the club in the summer and he has now been joined on the social media network by another member of the Sunderland board, Juan Sartori.

Sartori is in the middle of a campaign to be the National Party’s candidate for the Uruguayan presidency and, to promote that campaign, has taken to Twitter to get the message out.

So although Donald may be open about the club’s business, don’t expect anything other than Uruguyan politics from @JuanSartoriUY.

Sunderland AFC via Getty Images