Roker Roundup: Cantona on Lionel Perez ‘confrontation’; WBA hoping to keep Sunderland target

West Brom hoping to keep target

Sunderland were linked with a move for West Bromwich Albion starlet Rayhaan Tulloch recently, with the 19-year-old out of contract in the summer.

The England youth international has already made a handful of appearances for the Baggies first team but his performances for the club’s under-23 side that have led a number of teams to take note.

As well as Sunderland, Newcastle United, Rangers, Aston Villa, Bournemouth and Southampton have all been linked with a move for the forward.

West Brom have not given up hope of keeping Tulloch though, despite the player rejected a contract offer, as the Express and Star claim another offer has been made which the club hope will be enough to convince him to sign on the dotted line.

Photo by Richard Sellers/PA Images via Getty Images

Former winger joins SPL side

Ex-Sunderland winger Ross Wallace has joined Scottish Premiership side St Mirren on a deal that will keep him at the club until the end of the season.

Wallace was released by Fleetwood Town at the beginning of the season and had been training with the Buddies to keep up his fitness, but injuries to the St Mirren first team led manager Jim Goodwin to offer him a short-term deal:

That was purely for training, it wasn’t a trial period, at that moment in time we didn’t need anybody but then obviously losing Kyle Magennis and Ryan Flynn, along with Ross still being available, convinced us to get him in. It’s vital that we have enough to get us through the season.

Fitness-wise he isn’t going to be where we want him to be at the moment but we will work with him over the next few weeks.

Goodwin was delighted to get the 34-year-old on board as he believes the player’s experience and versatility will be a big benefit to his side:

Just having someone with his experience around is great and also the fact he can play in midfield and at left-back.

People will be used to him playing in more advanced areas but he actually played a lot at League One in England with Fleetwood Town last year in the middle of the pitch. He’s a very calming influence in there, keeps things nice and simple and reads the game well. He’s still got bags of quality as well.

That experience he will bring is invaluable.

Photo by Jon Buckle - PA Images via Getty Images

Cantona explains iconic celebration against Sunderland

Manchester United legend Eric Cantona appeared on the Utd Podcast this week and explained why he celebrated the way he did for his famous goal against Sunderland.

Cantona’s iconic celebration following him chipping Lionel Perez is one of the defining Premier League moments and Cantona said being snubbed by the Sunderland goalkeeper before the match was extra motivation.

The French duo were team-mates at Nimes in Ligue 1 before Cantona left France for Leeds United and Cantona claims Perez refused to shake his hand in the tunnel, which only inspired him:

Before the game, in the tunnel, I came to him to shake his hand and say hello to him because I hadn’t seen him since I left [Nimes]. It was the last club I played for in France.

And he didn’t want to shake my hand. So maybe I scored this goal because of that!

That’s the biggest humiliation for a goalkeeper, and this kind of celebration too. Because he’s angry and you don’t run anywhere.

I just stand there. Look at me.

Photo by Mike Poole/EMPICS via Getty Images