please log in to view this image Sunderland AFC via Getty Images Sunderland goalkeeper Robbin Ruiter returned to first team training today for the first time since badly dislocating his finger in February - and he could be set to stay on Wearside ahead of next season in League One. The 31-year old former FC Utrecht stopper has a year left on his current deal with the club, having signed on for two years after a successful trial last summer, and it’s thought that he’s keen to stick around and fight for his place as Sunderland’s number one with new signing Jon McLaughlin, who arrived last week on a free transfer following a successful season at Heart of Midlothian. please log in to view this image Ruiter’s finger after it had been operated on Robbin Ruiter (Instagram) In a conversation with Roker Report earlier this year, current Sunderland goalie Max Stryjek described the incident to us when Ruiter damaged his finger in gruesome terms - and insisted that it was even worse in person: I saw it live and it was even worse. It looked bigger. In training he went to catch the ball - Mitre balls move a lot if you hit them badly. It hit the top of his finger, and you could hear a crack in his bones straight away. We knew that something bad had happened. Roker Report learned earlier this week that Ruiter is making no plans to leave the club this summer, and has even enrolled his son into a local nursery such is his desire to stay. The Dutchman joined McLaughlin, Stryjek and New Zealand international Michael Woud in training this morning and he’ll make up part of the squad that flies out to Portugal this weekend to undergo an intensive warm-weather training camp, headed up by Sunderland manager Jack Ross and his newly-assembled backroom team.
Don't want him to stay, waste of resources IMO. Would rather McLaughlin number one and Stryjek number 2 with an U21 as third choice.
He's a decent keeper on his day. Head and shoulders above Steele and Camp. I think we'd maybe have even stayed up if he hadn't got injured. Was in goal during our only decent spell of the season after the initial start. If you haven't already zoom in on that picture and look at the state of the finger he injured. Crikey
That’s f uck all man I have had worse than that and just carried on working until I’ve got home and our lass has dragged me to hospital ( photo’s available if you sick buggers don’t believe me
I agree with that Parker, but his big weakness was getting beat on his near post. Cure him of that and I think there's a decent keeper there, but at his age he should have been sorted by now.
It does sort of depend on your job though doesn't it. An outfield player could probably sort something for it. For a decent keeper your hands are rather important. Ruiter could perhaps get away with it though... On a serious note I thought he looked passable at times in the Championship but Bri said early on he had a near-post weakness and then it was glaring every time I saw him play. It wasn't just when he got beaten there he left gaps at other times too. He would probably be ok in League One but given that the pressure will be on to win generally his mess ups could be very costly and you can guarantee the opposing teams will have done their homework on Sunderland. A worthy League One 3rd choice.
Yeah Bri was bang on about that and it was unfortunately proven several times. I'd be content with him staying on as third choice with Stryjek as second although that's assuming Stryjek is any good, Coleman didn't deem him any better than the dross we had.
If he is going nowhere this window and he plays we need to cheer not jeer him. Lets give him confidence too hopefully turn in decent performances. Lets face facts the goalies carried the can for a lot last year but the whole team were utter utter f*cking sh*te.
Me too. He’s not a good keeper but he’s willing to fight fir his place unlike a number of others in the squad who just don’t want to play in the league they got us to. Ruiter us one of those keepers who can look good sometimes and awful others. Better than either of the other 2 we had last season! But that’s saying very little as they were ****e too!!
