Ex-Sunderland striker Victor Anichebe has backed Josh Maja’s decision to leave the club in January but slammed the Black Cats for not tying him down to a new deal sooner.

Maja was sold to Ligue 1 side Bordeaux in the January transfer window to much criticism after he had rejected a new deal at the Stadium of Light, but Anichebe finds it hard to blame his former teammate.

“I would have preferred it if he would have stayed until the end of the season,” Anichebe told Football League World in an exclusive interview.

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“But then that’s someone else’s personal preference.

“In a way that’s Sunderland’s own fault.

“Even when I was there I could see that he was a really good player so they should have tied him down to a contract back then instead of allowing him to run his contract down.

“But I hope he does well because he’s a really nice kid and he’s a good player so I wish him well for the future.”

Anichebe only made 19 appearances for Sunderland during his one season with the club, but still became a fan favourite in the process.

He is now a free-agent having left Beijing BSU after a short-spell with the Chinese Super League club.

Since Maja left the Stadium of Light he is yet to find the back of the net, drawing a blank in all three of his Ligue 1 appearances, compared to the 15 he scored in 24 League One games.