JI DONG-WON is eager to hand Steve Bruce some payback after earning the backing of the Sunderland manager. Bruce has persistently sung Jiâs praises during Sunderlandâs pre-season campaign after some encouraging displays during the formative stages of the Korean hitmanâs tenure on Wearside. Despite Bruce looking to add to his attacking options before the transfer deadline with ex-Newcastle man Craig Bellamy on the radar, the Sunderland boss insists he is happy for the unproven Ji to be one of the clubâs four strikers this season. Bruce arranged with South Korean manager Cho Kwang-Rae for Ji to miss tonightâs international friendly with Japan and the 20-year-old believes he has been given every chance to be a success at the Stadium of Light. In his first press interview since joining Sunderland, Ji told the Echo: âWhen I first went arrived, I wasnât as fit as the other players and on the pitch, I didnât feel I showed my best in Germany. âBut despite not being 100 per cent, the coach still said good things about me âI need to do my best to pay back Steve Bruce and make him happy because Sunderland have been so supportive. âTo help me adapt to life at Sunderland, Steve Bruce agreed with the Korean head coach that I wouldnât play tonight. âI appreciate the attitudes and thinking of both sides. It shows theyâre thinking about me.â Ji is firmly in contention to feature in Saturdayâs Premier League opener at Liverpool, although it is likely to be from the bench with Asamoah Gyan and Stephane Sessegnon expected to lead the line at Anfield. The £2million summer signing is happy to bide his time though and insists Sunderland can upset the odds against Kenny Dalglishâs side. âA strong team doesnât necessarily beat all the other clubs,â said Ji, speaking through an interpretor. âWe have been working hard in pre-season and weâve picked up some good players during the transfer window. âIâm expecting the reverse result that everyone else will be thinking. âThereâs time for me to get onto the pitch and get involved in the first-team. âIt depends on Steve Bruce of course. All I can do is do my best on the training field. âThere are plenty of good players here like Gyan, Sessegnon and Connor Wickham. âIâm learning good things from them both on and off the pitch.â Sunderland have been flooded with interest from the Korean media since Jiâs arrival as the former Chunnam Dragons striker looks to follow in the footsteps of international team-mates Manchester Unitedâs Park Ji-Sung and Boltonâs Lee Chung-yong Don't know why, but ive got a hunch this lads gonna be ok. Hope he does get plenty of oppertunities.
Gotta agree think he might be the surprise but of the summer, plus raising our profile in Asia gotta be good for the bank balance.
This guy is, in my opinion, the most exciting buy of the summer. The rest are good additions, but we've seen them all before. I doubt whether anybody on here had even heard of Mr Ji before we signed him so he's a totally unknown quantity. Sadly, barring injuries, I can't see him getting many games. I suppose Wickham is similar, but I can't get particularly excited about him.
well if he wasnt at his best in germany i cant wait to see what his best is!! im very excited about him
He is the dark horse of the team. I really believe he will go on to be a fans favourite and possible legend at our club.
