Sunderland should look at signing free agent Ross Turnbull to add goalkeeping competition

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Sunderland had a Championship campaign filled with goalkeeping errors last season and new manager Jack Ross will be keen to avoid that same fate in League One.

Sunderland have made a number of shrewd additions to their League One squad, with arguably the most impressive being the signing of experienced goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin.

Jack Ross’s reasoning for signing a new stopper was evident this summer, with Sunderland’s Championship campaign last season having been full of goalkeeping errors which eventually led to their relegation.

However, despite the signing of McLaughlin being an impressive one, Ross may still want to make a goalkeeping addition that can bring healthy competition for the number one jersey and free agent Ross Turnbull might be the man to consider.

Turnbull had previously had trials with the Black Cats at Academy level, but joined Middlesbrough instead, where he featured in and out of the first-team from 2002 to 2009.

The 33-year-old certainly doesn’t lack experience, having played at 11 different clubs across the English Football League, from Crewe Alexandra to Chelsea.

The Bishop Auckland born man has made 180 appearances across England’s top three tiers and also featured with England at every youth level, indicating he certainly has what it takes to provide competition for a place in Sunderland’s League One side.

Robbin Ruiter often showed promise in last season’s pre-season games, but lacked confidence when claiming the ball from crosses and particularly lacked the ability to stop shots from range.

The Dutchman played 20 games in the second division last season and conceded 32 goals, a statistic that suggests a new number two would be wise for the Black Cats to consider.

And Turnbull certainly wouldn’t be a bad option for Ross to consider, with his extensive experience and knowhow of the lower leagues and his impressive statistics with several different clubs, the North-East born man would make for a great signing on a free.