Why on-loan Spurs striker is yet to feature for Sunderland | OneFootball

Kazaiah Sterling has yet to feature for Sunderland after signing in January.

The forward joined the Black Cats’ on loan from Tottenham but has not played and again missed out for Sunderland’s 4-2 win over Gillingham on Tuesday.

However, managed Jack Ross has revealed the reason why.

“Kaz was unfit,” the Sunderland boss told the Shields Gazette. “We thought he would be OK but he had to pull out [of the Stanley game] quite late on.

“He’s trained but obviously it’s been a little bit stop-start for him with a couple of knocks.”

Sunderland have struggled for goals since the turn of the year leading to a possible opportunity in the first team when he returns.

“At the moment, we can only select 16 outfield players [in the squad] so with us pretty much at full health, there’s always going to be four or five who miss out.

“At one stage we were probably having to push some of the boys [who weren’t fully fit] but now we can be a bit more measured in that respect.”

Sterling will be hoping to do enough in practice sessions to earn a place on the bench when Sunderland travel to Bristol Rovers on Saturday.

The Black Cats are currently third in League One, four points behind Barnsley but with a game in hand on the Yorkshire club who sit second.