MON can confirm that the lad is back in training. Taken from SAFC: Sunderland defender Matt Kilgallon has resumed training. The 28-year-old defender has been out of action since being stretchered off during the 1-0 defeat at Chelsea on January 14. Kilgallon has made four appearances since being recalled by Martin O'Neill for the win over Manchester City on New Year's Day and was in excellent form prior to the injury. O'Neill said: "Matt has done a little bit of training this week and hopefully he will join in with us this morning. "He would be the closest of the recent injuries to a return." Personally i think this is fantastic news, i was very impressed when he came into the team, and i thought he was creating a good partnership with O'Shea tbh. Currently i'd put him ahead of Turner, mostly due to his dreadful clearances against boro that had my heart in my mouth! Would anyone prefer turner over this lad?
I'd put Kilgallon behind only Brown & O'Shea. He's a good, solid defender, and he has that little bit more on the ball, as you mentioned. The injury must have been a nightmare for the lad, in terms of timing, but i'm with you, he & O'Shea was working well. Credit to the lad.
Aye, I do think O'Shea benefits whoever he's alongside though, but his passing is almost as pish as Turners!
I would have Killa back in the side, he is just ahead of Turner because of his additional pace and better passing. I think Turner adds more of a threat from set pieces though. I think as BB says Oshea and Brown would be our no.1 pair. Will be interesting to see if Bramble gets a game when he comes back if he is found not guilty. He was also playing well before he got injured. We are blessed we decent centre backs at the moment.
I honestly think the Greek lad needs putting in there with Turner dropping out. Although O'Shea got beat so many times in the air by that Boro kid it was shocking!!!
I think it's gonna be tough for Titus to be honest mate. Even if he's found not guilty, the stigma attached is gonna be a burden to the club, the fact that it's happened before is hard to ignore. I just don't know if the club can carry the baggage, even though I don't believe for a second the lads done owt wrong.
Good call, however i do think MON will make him work for a place in the team, but he's got a better chance now that ever with the amount of CB's out injured
Aye. Just been reading on the BBC. It's like I say Billy marra, I think the fact it's happened a couple of times may be too much for the club, regardless of verdict.
Found it mate, ta. Sunderland footballer Titus Bramble has denied four sexual assault charges. The 30-year-old is accused of indecently touching two women in separate incidents during a night out on Teesside, on 28 September last year. The Ipswich-born defender, of Wynyard, near Middlesbrough, appeared at Teesside Crown Court. The prosecution said Mr Bramble would face a total of four charges which all stem from the original two incidents. He will face trial, starting on 28 May. The first charge alleges the footballer indecently touched one woman. In the second count, he is alleged to have touched another woman's leg and moved his hand towards her crotch without consent. In the last two counts, he is accused of twice placing her hand on his crotch. At a plea and directions hearing, Mr Bramble spoke in a clear voice to say "not guilty" after each count was put to him. The recorder of Middlesbrough, Judge Peter Fox, adjourned the case until the trial in May. Mr Bramble was granted unconditional bail. He started his career at Ipswich Town and also played for Newcastle United and Wigan Athletic before signing for Sunderland.
This I would also stick our own "Hercules" in, in preference to Turner who can't defend, is slow to react and has failed miserably at set pieces both in attack and defence.
A couple of months ago when the topic of conversation was which players can we allow to go in the January window Matt Kilgallon was high on the list. This just shows how things can change.
