Why Sunderland Could Effectively Replace Jermain Defoe With This 129 Goal Scottish Striker

Why Ross McCormack Would Be A Good Replacement For Jermain Defoe At Sunderland

Steve Bruce is adamant that Ross McCormack’s attitude is to blame for his fallout with Aston Villa and nobody outside the club can really know for sure. But he must surely still have a value at this level and may well be perfect for Sunderland.

The Wearsiders have launched a bid to take the Scottish international on loan after he was left out of Villa’s pre-season friendly game squad amid continued tension between himself and the boss. His future clearly lies well away from Villa Park.

Having not enjoyed his move from Fulham to Villa and missing training several times, McCormack was informed by the club that he needed to buck up his ideas and was sent out on loan to Nottingham Forest for the second half of last season.

Even that move wasn’t too successful though, with just one goal being scored by the former Cardiff and Leeds man in 7 appearances. It seems like Forest have shown little interest in keeping him permanently. McCormack is damaged goods right now but a loan move without too much responsibility could be the making of him as well as being a good deal for the club.

That club may well be Sunderland, and if they can get McCormack to the club without shelling out too much money, then they may find they have a bargain. It’ll need to be a bargain deal of course, as their club hero Defoe left for nothing, a few weeks ago, to join Bournemouth. Not so surprisingly, replacements in that position are generally very expensive.

McCormack is 30 now and may not be at his very best. However, he still retains the ability and his overall record at this level is outstanding. Making his name at Rangers and Motherwell, the striker scored a move to Cardiff City where he was an instant hit.

In two seasons at the club, McCormack hit 29 goals in 85 games before a move to Leeds United. 58 goals followed in 157 games leading to a move to Fulham in summer 2014 and another prolific spell followed, with 42 goals scored in 100 appearances at Craven Cottage.

His move to Villa last summer was supposed to be his crowning glory, but that appears to be ending in tears. Villa now have Scott Hogan and are more than willing to get rid of McCormack at the earliest opportunity and given his past record, it seems Bruce may have underestimated him on the playing front at least.