Sunderland Football Club

• Nickname:Black Cats
• Founded:1879
• Manager:Paolo Di Canio

• Ground:Stadium of light
• Capacity:48353

Sbragia targets new signing

23 Dec 2008 - 11:52:16

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Caretaker boss Ricky Sbragia is planning for the future at Sunderland after revealing he hopes to sign a new defender in January.

Sbragia has been at the helm of the Black Cats since Roy Keane resigned earlier in the month.

The Scottish coach has led the club to back-to-back wins that have boosted the Black Cats' Premier League survival hopes, but has steadfastly refused to discuss the possibility of replacing Keane on a permanent basis.

However, he has admitted that he is planning for the future after approaching the board for transfer funds.

"I've put forward a suggestion about bringing someone in and that's being looked at," he told the Sunderland Echo.

"It's early days yet and I haven't got a name but the position I'm looking at is defence, because I think we're a bit thin there.

"I'll be looking at bringing in an experienced Premiership defender. I don't think we'll look abroad, simply because I think it takes time to get used to the Premiership and to settle in.

"We'll look to buy an experienced Premiership defender, but if that doesn't work out there's always the use of the loan system and, of course, we have an experienced loan player in Paul McShane whose (loan) spell at Hull City is something we might look at."