Roker Roundup: Polish striker Kacper Przybylko on why he cut his Sunderland trial period short

McAteer unhappy with Keane

Former Sunderland captain Jason McAteer has criticised ex-Black Cats boss Roy Keane for speaking out against Jon Walters recently.

The former Burnley and Stoke striker had been on television talking about his heartbreak after losing his mother when he was young, losing his brother last year, his wife suffering a miscarriage and his daughter being diagnosed with spinal condition scoliosis.

Keane made light of that situation recently, suggesting Walters should ‘stop crying’:

Jon does a lot of talking, it’s amazing. Imagine if Jon won a trophy. He talks a good game.

He goes on the TV, on about how he was harshly treated by me, not kicking a ball for Burnley for two or three years, crying about his family situation.

You know, how about lying low for a while, taking it easy?

Have a look at his medals – it wouldn’t take long.

McAteer took offence at those comments, explaining to Talksport how Walters is an advocate for mental health and how he would rather have mates than Keane’s medals:

We all know Roy, he says what he wants and that’s why he’s box office because he says it how he thinks.

It’s very watchable at times, but unfortunately I do feel he lets himself down with the comments he makes about other players and I was disappointed that Roy come out and said some of the things he did.

Jonny is a brilliant guy and he’s an advocate for mental health. He’s gone on telly and put himself out on a limb because he feels it’s going to help people, and it is.

We need to create more awareness of mental health these days and what people go through, certainly elite sportspeople because it’s a very demanding environment and unfortunately when you come out of it it leaves you with problems sometimes.

Jonny feels the need to come out and help people, which is fantastic, you take your hat off to him for that. So for Roy to bring him down and suggest he needs to stop crying on the telly, it was a poor comment.

I think he got wrapped up in the environment, everyone was laughing, there was a lot of people in the audience and he maybe got a little bit too comfortable with his comments and he let himself down.

As far as of the other comments between them, they are Roy’s opinions and Jonny has come out and said what he needed to say about the situation, and it’s just whose story you believe.

Roy does like the medals one, but at the end of the day you can’t take the medals down the pub and have a pint with them. They don’t talk back to you.

I’d rather have a couple of mates than a couple of medals, to be honest.

Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images

Former loanee became a man at Sunderland

Although former Sunderland loanee Jake Clarke-Salter had a torrid time during his loan spell at the Stadium of Light, the England under-21 international feels like he is a better person for that experience.

Sunderland got relegated to League One during the half season Clarke-Salter spent at the club, with the 21-year-old receiving red cards in consecutive games during that spell.

The central defender told The Independent how his time at Sunderland made him a man:

I learned the most at Sunderland. I feel I went as a boy and now I’m a man. I got that mental toughness.

The team were struggling and, at the time, it’s not the greatest, but the game is full of ups and downs no matter what type of player you are. I’ve experienced injuries, red cards, and learnt from my mistakes.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

Former trialist explains Sunderland decision

Sunderland took Polish striker Kacper Przybylko om trial at the beginning of last season, as they looked to strengthen up front.

The 26-year-old ended up joining Philadelphia Union in the MLS instead and has had a successful time, scoring 13 goals in 22 games as well as providing four assists.

Speaking about his trial, Przybylko explained to Przeglad Sportowy that although he enjoyed his time at the club, he was desperate to get back to playing after a spell out through injury and Sunderland were hoping to extend his trial further:

They checked me in Sunderland, I spent a week or 10 days there and liked it, but they wanted to continue testing me. I didn’t want tests anymore, I just missed playing football.

I decided on Philadelphia. I also liked the fact that while everyone was worried about my leg, they immediately said that everything is OK, I just need to get back in shape.

After his good run of form with the Union, the striker says that he would like to return to Europe but understands that he will have to keep that run of form going:

Of course. I would be happy for an offer, but I have to continue my form next season in the MLS.

Maybe in winter someone will be looking for a striker when the season ends here? Europe is a different level, a different game, but I will never say that it is weak here.

“Ibra” says so, but he jokes a lot. He knows it’s not easy here.

Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images