Kristjaan Speakman gives his verdict on Sunderland’s signing of 39-year-old earlier this season

At the end of the January transfer window, Sunderland announced the signing of former player Jermain Defoe.

However, the striker stayed at the club for under two months before announcing his retirement from football mid-season.

The signing was a somewhat controversial one even at the time when manager Lee Johnson expressed his concerns over the 39-year-old’s lack of fitness and was more interested in pursuing younger alternatives, although he was overruled by those above him.

Furthermore, following Johnson’s dismissal and the appointment of Alex Neil, it became clear that under the Scotsman he would not be a first choice player making just two starts and five substitute appearances before announcing his retirement.

Having not scored any goals on his return to the Stadium of Light, it was a move that seems to have been a poor one for all parties although sporting director Kristjaan Speakman has defended the move to re-sign the player as he told The Northern Echo: “I don’t necessarily look back on it and say we should or shouldn’t have done it. I just think that we make the best possible decision we can as a club that, given time, sometimes they work or don’t work.

“Did this one have more risk? Of course, it did. Because of age profile, playing history, etc. But at the same time, there will be other risks that we have taken which were really successful that we don’t talk about because they have been successful. Therefore, it is what it is.”

Defoe’s departure did leave the Black Cats short of attacking options towards the end of the season when Nathan Broadhead was injured or Ross Stewart needed a rest but Speakman feels that despite it being a blow, Defoe’s decision was the right one as he said: “Jermain came to that