Sunderland got the best out of Fraizer Campbell during his first-spell at the club – is a return on the cards following his Crystal Palace release?
Holland’s Nigel De Jong shakes hands with England’s Fraizer Campbell
It was during his spell at Sunderland that Fraizer Campbell earned the one and only England call-up of his professional career.
After suffering with a niggling knee injury for 16 long months, the one-time Manchester United prospect returned to the fold with two goals in five games, catching the eye of Three Lions’ interim coach Stuart Pearce.
However, rather than kicking on to ensure he did not join Jay Bothroyd and David Nugent in that ‘one cap club’, that England opportunity was as good as it got for Campbell.
Stuart Pearce is the only England manager to give Campbell a call
And though a return to the Stadium of Light would hardly put the 29-year-old in Gareth Southgate’s thoughts, Wearside could be the ideal environment for Campbell to kick-start his stuttering career.
The Crystal Palace striker is out of contract this summer and is almost certain to leave the club after playing only 154 minutes of action in the Premier League in 2016/17.
However, opportunities would come around far more frequently at Sunderland – even if he has to drop down a division to get them.
The recently relegated Black Cats will lose Jermain Defoe on a free while Fabio Borini appears to be edging closer to the exit too. Therefore, Sunderland are in desperate need of attacking reinforcements and the debt-ridden northeners should jump at the chance of handing free-agent Campbell a second chance.
Ladbrokes have made them 4/1 to re-sign Campbell this summer.
He’s proven in the Championship, after all, helping Hull City to promotion in 2007/08 and repeating the trick with Cardiff in 2012/13.
Therefore, although he may not be the most prolific of goalscorers, his knowledge of the club and his second tier history suggests Campbell is a risk worth taking.
Though it appears they may have competition, with The Sun claiming that newly promoted Huddersfield Town are keen to offer him a Premier League lifeline.
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