Ricky Sbragia Urges Djibril Cisse To Put Distractions Aside For Sunderland

Sunderland boss Ricky Sbragia has called for on-loan striker Djibril Cisse to put all of the doubts of his future at the club aside until the final whistle has blown on the season.

It has been oft reported that the French international striker has not done enough to convince the Black Cats to make his loan spell at the Stadium of Light permanent, while the player himself has only stoked the flames of speculation by linking himself to a number of other clubs including Tottenham.

“I’m not that concerned. He is a Sunderland player, we pay him and when we’re over the line we will address it," Sbragia was quoted as saying by the Daily Express.

“It just keeps popping up all the time. I don't know if it is coming from his side."

Cisse, who is currently on a season-long loan at the Stadium of Light from French giants Olympique de Marseille, was dropped to the bench for last week's goalless draw at Bolton, with the Black Cats opting to deploy Kenwyne Jones as a lone frontman.

"He is available for selection and we will sacrifice players to play different systems. I have another eight or nine players who are not happy but they’re not in the papers every week. It’s part and parcel of football,” added Sbragia, before concluding with a note of optimism.

“Footballer’s want to win football games and I’m sure that will be Djib’s attitude in the last two games of the season.”

Derek Wanner, Goal.com