Should Sunderland’s Jason Steele be relieved after Derby move collapsed?

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Goalkeeper Jason Steele will be stuck at Sunderland until the summer after failing to seal a move to Championship rivals Derby County.

Jason Steele will spend the next six months as a Sunderland player.

The goalkeeper only moved to the Stadium of Light in the summer after Blackburn Rovers’ relegation to League One but, halfway through his debut season on Wearside, was on the verge of leaving.

The Chronicle reports that Steele had even travelled to Derby County to seal a loan move to Pride Park that was expected to become permanent if Gary Rowett’s side maintain their position in second and earn promotion to the Premier League.

It is understood, however, that Derby suddenly demanded that the terms of the deal be changed to a standard loan, meaning Steele’s move to the East Midlands fell through at the eleventh hour.

And this puts the former England youth ace in a rather difficult position. Because while Steele looked set to leave, Sunderland signed Lee Camp on loan from Cardiff City more than likely as his replacement.

Steele had struggled to secure his place in Sunderland’s side this season with Robbin Ruiter preferred but Camp’s arrival means his chances of nailing that number one jersey are even slimmer now.

But is Steele still better off at relegation threatened Sunderland than at high-flying Derby? Possibly. After all, Ruiter has hardly been convincing while Camp is past his best and relegated with Rotherham United just last season. You cannot rule out Steele winning his place back.

At Derby, however, he would have had to compete with Scott Carson, arguably the Championship’s most impressive goalkeeper this season.

If it is game-time Steele is after, he surely has a better chance of getting it on Wearside.