Sunderland paid £200,000 to sign centre-back Jack Baldwin from League One rivals Peterborough United in the summer transfer window.
Sunderland’s decision to bring Jack Baldwin to the Stadium of Light this summer made perfect sense.
After all, the former Peterborough United captain was a proven and experienced League One defender who had been there and done it in the third tier of English football. For just £200,000, according to the Northern Echo, Baldwin looked a real bargain.
And manager Jack Ross has obviously been impressed. The 25-year-old has played in all but one of Sunderland’s 20 League One games so far, with the Black Cats sitting third in the table, five points behind league leaders Portsmouth with two games in hand.
But, speaking to the Chronicle, Baldwin clearly believes that he is not performing at his absolute peak right now.
“I think I started off pretty well, putting in some decent defensive performances,” said the defender, who is back in the North East after three years at Hartlepool United between 2011 and 2014.
“I think I’ve gone away from that recently, I’ve not come out thinking I’ve played the best I’ve played this season.”
Baldwin might be critical of his own displays, but Sunderland are still unbeaten in each of their last 12 league games, with the former Posh favourite at the heart of their back line.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
