ROKER ROUNDUP: AWOL Sunderland midfielder Didier Ndong finally leaves Gabon after 5 month stay

Ndong on the move

According to Gabonese outlet iSport, Didier Ndong finally left the Gabon city of Libreville on Thursday after a spell in the capital city of nearly five months.

Whilst he should have been with Sunderland during that time, first during the pre-season preperations and then helping the team during the League One campaign, he had instead been chilling out in his nation’s capital.

The report claims he left the country ahead of the transfer window closing, with interest in the player from Portugal and Germany, but with no information as to where the midfielder’s destination may be. The German transfer window closed and passed without any move but the window in Portugal is open until September 21.

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Loan Roundup

Connor Shields’ loan move to Alloa Athletic was confirmed yesterday and he was immediately named on the substitutes bench for the Scottish Championship side as they hosted Dundee United.

The 21-year-old came off the bench to makes his debut for The Wasps with four minutes remaining to replace Dario Zanatta.

Dundee had taken the lead through Paul Watson but Iain Flannigan equalised for the hosts with a well taken free kick.

Elliot Embleton was an unused substitute as Grimsby Town fell to a 1-0 home defeat by Yeovil Town, the visitors winning thanks to a debut goal by Omari Patrick.

Lamine Kone replaced Adrien Thomasson in the 69th minute for Strasbourg but by that time the home side were already 3-1 down to Nantes. They did get a goal back through Nuno Da Costa but the visitors held on for the win.

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Youngster signs up

The English Martyrs School in Hartlepool have announced that their pupil Cole Kiernan has signed a Scholarship deal with Sunderland.

Kiernan has attended day release throughout his time at the school and is now at the Academy of Light on a full-time basis.

He celebrated the announcement in style for the under-18s, as he scored both goals in a 2-1 away win over West Bromwich Albion at the weekend, the first win of the season for the side.