Richardson ready for relegation fight
Sunderland midfielder Kieran Richardson is confident his side can stave off relegation as they mount a charge for safety in the second half of the season.
The 23-year-old England international marked his first start in more than four months with his first goal for the club in Saturday’s 3-1 Premier League win over Bolton.
That dragged the Wearsiders out of the relegation zone, although they remain just a single point better off than Wigan, who currently occupy 18th place.
Richardson, a £5.5m summer signing from Manchester United, knows how tough a test the Black Cats face as they head for Blackburn tonight, but is convinced they can get themselves out of trouble.
He said: “In the changing room, between ourselves, we have no doubt we can get out of it.
“I am a confident lad and the players are all confident. We know we can do it.
“We weren’t getting carried away because we know how tight it is down there.
“The gaffer said everyone is worrying around us, but as long as we are focused and we keep positive between ourselves, we will have no problem.
“We did that on Saturday, we got the three points and now we are seeing a bit of light.
“But we have got to kick on from now and hopefully get a some more wins under our belt.”
Sunderland go to Ewood Park without an away win all season and having managed to collect just two out of 30 points contested on the road.
But the resilience they displayed in the face of a Bolton fightback has increased confidence they can address that situation.
Richardson said: “Obviously our away from isn’t as good as our home form but we have got great fans here and we have got great support away from home as well.
“We have got to crack on from now. We are not really thinking about home or away.
“We are taking every game one at a time and hopefully we can work hard and get the three points home or away.”
Keane will make late checks on his weary players before naming his team, but could welcome back Dwight Yorke after he was rested at the weekend.
Richardson will hope for another start after spending so long on the sidelines with a back fracture.
His manager is currently attempting to push through January recruitment plans, but the Greenwich-born winger admits he feels like a new signing himself after seeing his career interrupted within weeks of his arrival.
“I played two games and that was it. I have not shown the fans and everyone here what I can do yet, so it does feel like I am a new signing,” he said.
“I am definitely fresh – I need match fitness, but being on the sidelines watching the team out there is so frustrating.
“I am just so glad to be back in the mix and hopefully I can kick on from there.”
