Sunderland striker Victor Anichebe admits he played against Manchester United without being fully fit.
Victor Anichebe has admitted to the Chronicle that he played for Sunderland without being fully fit.
Anichebe was selected to start for Sunderland against Manchester United yesterday, with David Moyes desperate to improve his side’s attacking play.
Anichebe was one of Sunderland’s better performers over the early part of the campaign, before injury struck.
The powerful forward has been on the treatment table for some time, though, and he struggled to make an impact against United.
The Red Devils ran out 3-0 winners at the Stadium of Light yesterday, and Sunderland rarely threatened during the match.
Anichebe actually had Moyes’ side’s best chance, but he was unable to force the ball beyond Sergio Romero.
And the former West Bromwich Albion man admits that he is some way sort of his optimum level of fitness.
“It’s going to take me a couple of games, I wish I had time, or we had time, but we don’t,” Anichebe said.
“I haven’t trained much but I wanted to come in and help if I could, today’s not a good day, it’s a disappointing day, we haven’t had a good week.
“I feel OK, you could see I wasn’t where I was at when I got injured, where I would like to be.”
Was Moyes making a mistake playing Anichebe?
Anichebe’s admission over his fitness rather highlights Sunderland’s desperation for an answer to their attacking problems.
The Black Cats have not even score a goal during their last seven outings, with their performances extremely poor.
A half-fit Anchiebe was basically ineffective against United though, and Moyes may have been better off given a chance to Wahbi Khazri, who he has barely played this season.
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