Sunderland striker Will Grigg has praised the club’s fans and manager Jack Ross for sticking with him during his poor run of form and claimed he is optimistic he can repay their faith this season.

Grigg has scored just once in eight appearances this season and only six times since arriving at the club as a replacement for Josh Maja in January.

Speaking to the Sunderland Echo, the Northern Irishman expressed his appreciation for Ross and the Black Cats fans.

He said: “It means a lot that the fans are sticking with me.

“It must have been frustrating for them. I came in with a big price tag and it didn't quite happen for me. To see the support the other day [against AFC Wimbledon] and at Burnley, it's been massive. I just want to let them know I appreciate it."

He added: “The manager has been brilliant from day one. He's always been brilliant with me.

“From my end, it's always been difficult because he put a lot of faith in me and I didn't quite repay him last season. It's one of those things, football - it's not easy, it's not black and white and it doesn't always work like that.

“But I have nothing but positive things to say about the manager and hopefully I repay him for that this season."

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The Verdict

Things have certainly not gone to plan for Grigg so far at the Stadium of Light.

Fans of the North East club will likely have expected him to hit the ground running, given his fantastic record in League One, but so far it hasn’t worked out for him.

They should be encouraged by his comments as they suggest that he is happy at the club and is confident that he can get scoring goals soon.

The Northern Ireland international has scored 19 or more goals in a League One season four times in his career and Ross will be hoping he can return to form and provide that sort of production in the 2019/20 campaign.