Former Sunderland goalkeeper Vito Mannone has said that the club have added a "top striker" by signing Marc McNulty on loan from Reading.Â
The 26-year-old has joined the Black Cats on a season-long loan and will now join up with Jack Ross' squad ahead of their pre-season fixture against Heerenveen on Saturday.
Mannone and McNulty played together at Reading during the first part of last season and the ex-Sunderland man was quick to congratulate the new signing on his move.
The Italian goalkeeper, who spent four years at the Stadium of Light, sent a message to his former teammate on Twitter.
The 31-year-old noted that he was happy for McNulty and that he should "enjoy it", and told the Sunderland fans they're "getting a great guy and a top striker".
He added: "All the best for the season."
The Black Cats will be hoping McNulty can return to the sort of form he showed at Coventry City in the 2017/18 season when he bagged 28 goals.
The Scotsman joined Reading from the Sky Blues last summer but struggled to make an impact for the Royals, scoring just once in 15 appearances, and was sent out on loan to Hibernian for the second half of the season.
In the Scottish capital, the striker rediscovered his form and provided eight goals and five assists in 17 appearances.
McNulty has played for a number of other English clubs, including Bradford City, Portsmouth, and Sheffield United.
The Verdict
Mannone's comments indicate that McNulty is a good player to have in the dressing room, which should mean he settles in well at Sunderland.
This seems like a smart move from Ross. The Black Cats have struggled to replace Josh Maja, who left in January, and their other strikers, Greg Wyke and Will Grigg, finished the season with six goals each.
McNulty couldn't find his feet at Reading but he's shown his quality at Coventry and should be high in confidence following his spell at Hibs in the second half of last season.
His arrival could serve two purposes for the Black Cats. It will provide Ross with extra firepower, while the added competition may help Grigg rediscover his goalscoring form.