Ricky Sbragia

By The Black Cats
January 14 2009

Black Cats manager Ricky Sbragia has ruled out signing foreign players with no English top flight experience. Sbragia: "I definitely won't go for a foreigner this time because it takes a little bit of time for them to bed in. "The time for a foreigner to come in would be the summer.

By a 'foreigner' Sbragia means a player without Premier League experience.

"I am looking for a player with Premier League experience, and that's difficult to get. A lot of clubs don't want want to release them."

Sbragia added: "I won't go for a novice, I just need somebody with a little bit more experience.

"I would like to add another one because I feel the squad I have got, they are different class.

"They work well together, there is a bond between them and we are a bit concerned that maybe bringing a couple in might break that."

The Sunderland gaffer admits that the transfer window has come around too soon after taking over from Roy Keane just over a month ago.

He said: "I don't know their personalities, I don't know what they are like off the field. I need to spend more time and see players.

"The window, from my point of view, has come too early for me. I could have done with it in another couple of months and been able to have a look at some players and get to know their backgrounds.

"That's important as well."