What Rangers forward Martyn Waghorn once said about Sunderland legend Kevin Phillips

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Glasgow Rangers forward Martyn Waghorn has been linked with a move away from Ibrox and to Sunderland in the summer transfer window.

Rangers forward Martyn Waghorn has been linked with a move to Sunderland in the summer transfer window.

According to a recent report in The Mirror, Sunderland manager Simon Grayson wants to bring Waghorn back to the Stadium of Light.

The 27-year-old started his professional club football career at the Stadium of Light, but he failed to make a huge impact at the Black Cats and left in 2010.

Waghorn joined Rangers in the summer of 2015 and played well for the Gers in the Scottish Championship during the 2015-16 campaign, but he failed to do well in the Scottish Premiership last season.

According to a report in The Daily Record in June, Waghorn is considering his options and is willing to leave Rangers in the summer transfer window.

Waghorn has developed well since he left Sunderland, and he would be a good signing for the Black Cats in the summer transfer window if they are able to sign him on the cheap.

The following comments made by the Rangers forward would also be encouraging for the Sunderland fans, who would want the team to finish in the top six of the Championship this season at least.

The former Leicester City forward revealed in February 2016 that he grew up watching Kevin Phillips, who is a legend at Sunderland and was on the books of the English club from 1997 to 2003.

Phillips scored over 100 goals for Sunderland during his time at the Stadium of Light, including 30 in 36 Premier League matches during the 1999-2000 season, as reported by The Guardian.

If Waghorn is able to repeat the heroics of Phillips for Sunderland in 1999-2000 in the Championship this season and get them promoted to the Premier League, then he would become a hero among the fans for years to come.

“I’d like to say I’m a No9, but I’m not and out and out striker,” Waghorn told The Scottish Sun in February 2016.

“I like to come short and get the ball, drift, play wide. In fact I’d say I’m a nine and a half! I wouldn’t say I’m a poacher but maybe I could add that.

“I grew up watching a lot of Sunderland, I enjoyed watching the likes of Kevin Phillips. Then I was a big United fan, Andy Cole, Ruud van Nistelrooy.

“Robbie Fowler, I loved watching him on Match of the Day. Michael Owen was another. I’d say they were out and out strikers. Get them in the box, give them the ball, they’d finish it.”