Aston Villa flop travels to Austria for pre-season training - report
By Amir Mir
Aston Villa flop Charles N'Zogbia has travelled with Sunderland to Austria for a pre-season training camp, according to a report.
The Birmingham Mail claim that the free agent has travelled to Austria with Sam Allardyce's squad as the Frenchman continues his road to fitness ahead of the forthcoming Premier League campaign.
His former club Villa are also in Austria for pre-season, but N'Zogbia wants to build up his fitness and try to show Sunderland he is worthy of a contract after being released by the Midlands club.
As reported by Football Insider, N'Zogbia was spotted at Sunderland on Wednesday training alongside Jermain Defoe as he bids to win a contract.
It is said that the former Newcastle winger who worked under Allardyce at Tyneside will have a chance to impress the 61-year-old during the tour of Austria.
It increasingly suggests that the 30-year-old is close to earning a contract with the Premier League club, but it is reported that the winger will have to take a significant pay-cut to the £60,000-a-week contract he had at Villa.