Cats look to The Animal

8:58am Tuesday 8th July 2008

WHILE Roy Keane continues to hit a brick wall in his attempts to bolster his defensive ranks, he has been reminded that Sunderland could have The Animal at the heart of the defence next season.

It is seven months since Jean-Yves M'voto was signed from Paris St Germain for £300,000 and he has been given time to familiarise himself with the new surroundings.

But the French Under-19 international is expected to push for a first team place under Keane next season, given his ability to play either on the left or in the centre of defence.

The Sunderland manager is trying to add players with top level experience to his squad before the start of the new season, but is so far finding it difficult to acquire the men he wants.

With Jonny Evans back at Manchester United after the expiration of his loan terms, Keane is short of centrebacks.

Nyron Nosworthy, now one of the club's longest serving players, was impressed by the 6ft 4in defender during the weeks he has trained with the first team squad and feels next season could be a big year for M'voto.

And, provided he is given an opportunity to shine in the Premier League, Nosworthy is convinced there will be a few forwards around the country who will be on the wrong end of his towering frame.

"Jean-Yves has trained with us a few times and I call him the Animal," said Nosworthy.

"He is a strong defender and very talented. He needs to train with us a lot more. He is solid and I think he will do more.

"He has all the attributes to be a solid, top centre-half in the Premier League.

"He just needs to add that belief and that experience to develop into that player we know he can become. He has the ability and he has to adapt to the English game. From there the world is his oyster really.

"I think he can be a hit next season. He keeps himself to himself and is trying to get used to things. But the manager will bed him in slowly and he will be joining us at games.

"It's only when he will be given a chance in the first team that you can find out how good he is as a player. He needs that chance. He is doing well in training, it's just about getting a chance now."

Having failed to lure Richard Dunne from Manchester City or Carlos Cuellar from Rangers, Keane is keen to add players who have performed regularly at the highest level.

But Nosworthy insists the recruitment drive this summer should not be purely focused on experience. "We need players who have been there and done it, been around, because you can't beat lads with experience," he said.

"But you don't want to go overboard on that score because players like myself would never have been given a chance if that was the case.

"I'm an established Premier League player now and players like The Animal just need a chance and a run to show what they can do.

"If he is given a chance, it won't be the best news for the strikers around because he can hurt players."

Sunderland's Jamie Chandler will join up with the England Under-19s later today ahead of the European Championships on July 14 in the Czech Republic.

Chandler is joined in the squad by Middlesbrough goalkeeper Jason Steele, as England look to win it for the first time in 15 years - when Sol Campbell, Robbie Fowler and Paul Scholes were the stars of the show

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