Phillips salutes Johnson after ‘clever’ Sunderland transfer reveal
Kevin Phillips has claimed “it’s clever” for Sunderland to look at recruiting from the MLS or Indian Super League.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the Stadium of Light legend suggested players from those leagues could make an immediate impact on the Black Cats.
As quoted by the Chronicle (1 December), Lee Johnson revealed he could sign free agents to help ease his side’s injury crisis.
The Sunderland manager said the MLS and Indian Super League are of interest because players there are fit and available on short-term deals.
Phillips fears players from those league would struggle with the physical nature of League One though.
“I think it’s clever in the sense that these players will be fit and up to scratch,” he told Football Insider.
“It is always a difficult one when you sign someone halfway through the season. You would only bring in someone on loan if they have not been playing at their club.
“The downside is, League One is a physical league. When you look at the Indian league and the MLS, they are not that comparable to League One.
“The recruitment team will be searching high and wide for players who can come in and help out. I would be looking at the MLS over the Indian league though.”
Speaking on recruitment, Johnson said: “You do get scenarios where players are fit, and have been playing in foreign lands – the MLS is an example…
“The Indian league is another example of somewhere you can go to bring in fit players on a four or five month deal.”
In other news, Phillips has claimed ‘fingers will be pointed’ at Sunderland after ‘serious’ injury news.