Why Ross should persuade Lamine Kone to stay at Sunderland

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The 29-year-old had an exceptional opening season when he joined Sunderland in 2016, securing Premier League survival with the Black Cats.

29-year-old Lamine Kone enjoyed an exceptional opening campaign with Sunderland, but two seasons on the defender has failed to impress the Black Cats faithful with many of his displays.

The Ivory Coast international has appeared 69 times for the Wearsiders but, after Kone’s head was swayed by the prospect of a hefty transfer to another Premier League team in his second season at Sunderland, his performances on the pitch have spiralled.

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And after the Black Cats suffered back-to-back relegations from the Premier League and Championship, Kone’s move away from the club has looked inevitable.

Sunderland are set to embark on the daunting task of League One next term and, with Kone’s return to pre-season training having looked doubtful, his exit after two years was seemingly not far away.

However, only recently did 42-year-old Ross link up with his players for pre-season fitness tests and in that group of returnees was the former Lorient man.

Kone’s return to Sunderland training may only be a short-term occurrence, and the player may well move on from the club in due course but, with his value having plummeted in the time since he arrived, Sunderland’s new boss could well persuade the player to stay for what is the beginning of a new era on Wearside.

Fans on Wearside may be keen to see the back of the player, but very few will deny that Kone on his day could be the difference in Sunderland pushing for promotion or fighting for mid-table in the third tier of English football.

Not only does Kone’s ability make him almost as good as a new signing for Sunderland this summer, his physical attributes give the club not only a defensive stability when teams look to play direct football, but also a threat from set-pieces.

Sunderland’s number 23 may well have a desire to move on from the club who brought him to England and the player would certainly have a lot to prove with the Black Cats faithful.

However, if the former St Mirren boss can motivate his player to pull on the red and white stripes for another season, he could be the difference in what could be a new-look Sunderland defensive line next term.