Roker Roundup: AFC Bournemouth striker reveals details of failed Deadline Day Sunderland move

Surridge on failed Sunderland move

Before Sunderland signed striker duo Will Grigg and Kazaiah Sterling on transfer deadline day, Bournemouth youngster Sam Surridge was hotly tipped for a loan move to the Stadium of Light.

No move materialised and the striker remained at the Vitality Stadium but Surridge admitted in an interview with the Daily Echo that he was all set to sign for Sunderland and was just waiting for permission from Bournemouth to make the move, before Eddie Howe decided to keep the 20-year-old around his first team squad:

We had a couple of chats and he [Howe] said he wanted me to stay and be around the first team to try and fight for a place.

I keep working every day under him and he said he will improve me as a player, which I have done since I came back.

It is nice getting recognition and being wanted by other clubs.

With the Sunderland situation, I was ready to go until Thursday [deadline day] but we did not know if I was going to be allowed out.

It was one of those things I put at the back of my mind. If it happened, it happened but the gaffer wanted me to stay and I wanted to stay. I wanted to keep pushing myself and see what I could do.

I am happy to be working with top-quality Premier League players every day in training and the coaches are improving me.

The main thing I wanted when I came back was to stay at Bournemouth and prove myself. I have trained well and the gaffer wanted to keep me.

If I ended up out on loan it would have been great but it was even better to stay here for the rest of the season.

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Dundee boss discusses duo

Sunderland loanee Ethan Robson picked up a slight groin strain on his Dundee debut against Hamilton, an injury that meant he missed the Scottish Premiership outfit’s last game - a 2-2 draw against Kilmarnock.

Dundee boss Jim McIntyre blamed the injury on lack of playing time this season, due to Robson suffering with an ankle injury he picked up during a Checkatrade Trophy game against Carlisle United in October.

The midfielder should be fit for the trip to Livingston on Saturday however:

Young Robbo picked up a wee groin strain but he is nearly there.

He has not had a lot of regular football and had injuries earlier in the season so you are more susceptible to picking up wee things.

But there is nothing that is too major so we should be OK come the weekend.

McIntyre also discussed academy graduate Andrew Nelson’s sensational start to life in the SPL, saying that although the striker - who has scored three in three - has a lot to learn still, he is desperate to take things on board. He also said that Nelson will be feeling wanted after various loans spells whilst at Sunderland:

Andrew has a lot to learn but he has the raw ingredients to be a very good player.

There is still a lot of work required but the great thing about Andrew is that he is desperate to learn, he listens to what you are saying and he takes in information.

He is a work in progress but he did fantastically well in the first half (against Killie) although there were a lot of things he could have done better in the second half.

I think when you are a young lad who has come from a big club and you have been loaned out a couple of times, there is that need to feel wanted.

We have given him the security of a two-and-a-half-year deal because we have a great belief that he can do really well here and grow as a player.

The rest is really up to him but as I say, he is a great kid who is desperate to learn.

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Heckingbottom named Hibs manager

Scottish Premiership side Hibernian have appointed former Sunderland defender Paul Heckingbottom as first team coach, with the ex-Leeds United and Barnsley manager signing a three-and-a-half year deal at Easter Road.

He replaces Neil Lennon who left the club last month and the 41-year old will be assisted by another ex-Sunderland man in Robbie Stockdale, who coached with the club for six years. A spell which included being caretaker manager on three separate occasions.

Heckingbottom said it was an honour to take the reigns at Hibs and assures their supporters that he will do everything he can to be a success:

It’s an honour to be named head coach of Hibernian Football Club – a club with a rich history and commitment to playing attacking football.

There is so much potential here and the club has everything going for it.

I’m looking forward to getting to work and meeting the players and staff on Thursday, before stepping up preparations for Saturday’s game against Hamilton.

I will give everything I have to be a success here. Supporters can be assured of that.

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