Alex Neil says it is his job to help new recruits Jack Clarke and Daniel Ballard realise their potential at Sunderland. The Black Cats completed the signing of winger Clarke from Spurs yesterday after he helped the club achieve promotion during his loan spell on Wearside in the second half of last season.
And former Arsenal defender Ballard was given his first outing in Sunderland's friendly against Rangers in Portugal last night, albeit the game was truncated after a powercut at the Estadio Municipal de Albufeira meant the match had to be abandoned at half-time with the Black Cats leading 1-0. Of the new arrivals, Neil said: "I think what's important is that, we've got a model where we've got experienced lads who are there to help with the young lads that are coming through.
"The majority of our recruitment, certainly the ones who we're purchasing, are going to be ones where their best years are ahead of them. It's then my job to try and develop those players, and get them the gametime they need.
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"Equally, we've got to be successful in the same sentence and that's not an easy balance to strike. But, we'll do our best to do that, and we were successful with it last year."
Despite the shortened workout against Rangers, Ballard looked impressive in the opening 45 minutes playing alongside Luke O'Nien - who scored Sunderland's goal just before the half-hour - in central defence. Neil said: "He's big, strong, athletic, he covers the space well.
"Equally, he can get up and compete. He also uses the ball pretty well, so, what's there not to like?"
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