Patrick Mboma reckons he has a fight on his hands to win a place in Peter Reid’s side. The Cameroon ace knows he must dislodge Sunderland’s old guard of Niall Quinn and Kevin Phillips if he is to play in the club’s last four games.
by Nick Alexander
Patrick Mboma reckons he has a fight on his hands to win a place in Peter Reid’s side.
The Cameroon ace knows he must dislodge Sunderland’s old guard of Niall Quinn and Kevin Phillips if he is to play in the club’s last four games.
Injury to Mboma has meant that Quinn and Phillips, who is also carrying a knock, have started in the Black Cats’ last two games.
And Mboma, who has played alongside both strikers since moving to the Stadium of Light on loan, admits they will be hard to dislodge as he looks to impress and earn a permanent deal.
« They are both very good players, » said the former African Player of the Year.
« Everyone knows what Kevin Phillips can do, he is a goalscorer. Quinn is different but good to play with. I think we were starting to get an understanding at Leeds. »
Phillips faces a fight to be fit for Sunderland’s game against title-chasing Liverpool at the Stadium of Light on Saturday after suffering a recurrence of a stomach injury at Elland Road.
« I hope he is fit because he’s a very influential player for Sunderland, » said Parma man Mboma.
« I don’t want to get into the side because of Kevin’s injury, I want to be in because of what I do on the training ground so I want him to be fit.
« We need to start scoring goals from now until the end of the season so it’s important we have Kevin, Niall and myself fit. »
Mboma, who has had a number of niggling injuries since joining Sunderland, is hoping to make his move to Wearside permanent, although he has denied any deal has been agreed.
He added: « The injuries have not helped but I am enjoying my time with Sunderland very much. It’s exciting to be playing in the Premiership, and I know I want to stay here.
« But the stories I have signed a deal are not correct. I have had no discussions with anybody at the club yet. I just want to concentrate on playing, scoring goals and then see what happens afterwards. »
Boss Reid reckons Quinn’s return to form has been a big bonus for the Black Cats.
« We gave Niall a bit of a rest and he looks fresher, » said Reid. « He has looked more like his old self in our last few games. »
