Phil Parkinson has identified what former Hearts man Kyle Lafferty brings to Sunderland after the striker penned a Stadium of Light deal.
Despite the striker’s come-and-get-me plea to the Jambos (Daily Record), it’s Sunderland who have snapped him up. He’s signed on a deal until the end of the season.
Lafferty is with Sunderland. (Photo by Laurens Lindhout/Soccrates/Getty Images)
Parkinson reckons the experience which Lafferty will bring could be vital as they strive for promotion back to the Championship.
“I’m pleased to welcome Kyle to the club and I’m really looking forward to working with him,” the Black Cats boss told the club’s website. “He’s an experienced striker who provides us with another option in the final third.
“He adds competition for places at the top end of the pitch, which is something I felt we needed.”
Have Hearts missed a trick?
Lafferty adds to the other former Jambos already at the Stadium of Light. Jon McLaughlin and Alim Ozturk are two other Sunderland players who formerly represented the Jambos.
Once a Jambo. (Photo by Steven Hadlow/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
It seemed as if Lafferty was very keen on a Tynecastle switch though. He was excellent during his first stint, scoring 20 in 48 matches. Hearts have scored just 12 in the league all season.
Right now their top scorer in Premiership action is Ryotaro Meshino with three goals. Lafferty’s has proven ability in scoring regularly, but Hearts haven’t made any moves for him.
Instead he’ll be playing in League One. Lafferty didn’t feature in Sunderland’s most recent match, an impressive 4-0 win over Wycombe.