Sunderland boss Gus Poyet believes a fit-again Steven Fletcher can be the perfect partner for Connor Wickham, despite rumours suggesting Alan Pardew is set to nick his prize youngster.
The Black Cats are trying to tie up a deal for Liverpool forward Fabio Borini – but Poyet is making plans to go into the new campaign with the same strikers that were available to him during last season’s great escape.
That includes Wickham, who became a hero when he hit the goals that helped stave off the threat of relegation, and Fletcher – who has the benefit of a full pre-season behind him after the injury-jinxed campaign that saw some doubt him last year.
Poyet: “Fletch is a much happier person now he has been able to do a whole pre-season without any problems and be proper fit to play football. That makes a difference. We just need to be lucky to keep him fit.
“Connor showed us last year what he can do. I think he’s feeling better with Fletch next to him so it’s an option. These games have given me information to make decisions about how we’re going to play in the next few weeks.
“They both understand each other very well and they linked well in Portugal.
"There have been rumours Connor could move this summer but he is still here and I believe he will stay at this club.”