Roker Roundup: Sunderland appoint former Man Utd, Everton & Stoke scout

New scout appointed

Sunderland have made an addition to the scouting department, with Chris Morris joining the club.

Morris, who had previously scouted for Manchester United, Everton and Stoke City, will be the Lead Scout for the North of England, focusing on the 15 to 23 age groups.

He will officially start in the new year and his arrival comes just 10 days after Kristjaan Speakman arrived at Sunderland as Sporting Director.

Borini heads to Turkey

Fabio Borini had been a free agent since leaving Hellas Verona at the end of the 2019-20 season but the former Sunderland striker has finally found a new club.

The Italian has signed a deal with Turkish Super Lig outfit Fatih Karagumruk after successfully passing a medical.

Borini’s new team are currently ninth in the table and he’ll join the likes of Eric Lichaj, Badou Ndiaye (on loan from Stoke) and veteran Argentine defender Lucas Biglia in the club’s squad.

Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images

Woud on Sunderland departure

Academy product Michael Woud was already a full international with New Zealand when he left Sunderland without making any appearances, as he headed to the Netherlands to sign for Willem II.

Speaking to Tribal Football about the move, Woud explains that he did not want to continue playing development football and explained how difficult it was getting a chance at Sunderland:

It comes down to opportunities, for me, I was not going to accept sitting around at 22 or 23, just not playing, earning good money but not the opportunity to perform.

It is difficult to give young players opportunities at a big club like Sunderland, especially goalkeepers. It is the cycle of football and when there are offers they sometimes have to let the players go if the situation is right.

Woud also discussed how he originally ended up at Sunderland as a 16-year-old, how Jordan Pickford helped him improve and how he believes the club can get back to the Premier League:

I went to tournament in Manchester called Nike Cup around five years ago with a team from New Zealand, and I got scouted by Sunderland and went on trial.

They were happy with me and I signed as a 16-year-old. I had three years there before making the move to Willem. Sunderland is a massive club and they were in the Premier League at the time with some great players.

It is sad to see where they are now, but it was great to be there. I trained with Pickford and I learned a lot. It is good being in an environment like that, but you need to know the time to move on and as a goalkeeper the most important thing is to play games. I really enjoyed my time there and I am sure they can get back to the top.

Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images