Times Sport
Keeping Gardner is O'Neill's top deal
12:09pm Tuesday 7th February 2012
SUNDERLAND'S transfer-deadline day might have been dominated by the arrival of Wayne Bridge and Sotirios Kyrgiakos, but Martin O'Neill feels holding on to one of the club's existing players was his most important piece of business.
Craig Gardner's future was the subject of considerable conjecture last month, with Wolves and West Brom both heavily linked with the Midlands-born midfielder.
Gardner has struggled to settle in the North-East following his summer move from Birmingham, and it was feared he could be tempted away from the Stadium of Light by a club closer to his family home.
However, last Tuesday's deadline passed with him still on Wearside, and having watched the 25-year-old play a pivotal role in Saturday's hard-fought win at Stoke, O'Neill is delighted to have him at his disposal for the remainder of the campaign.
"We're pleased that the transfer deadline passed and he's still with us," said the Sunderland boss, who spent yesterday pondering his starting line-up for tomorrow's FA Cup fourth-round replay at Middlesbrough.
"He was excellent (at Stoke) and was fantastic for us on Wednesday night (against Norwich) too. I just hope he continues to be homesick and plays like that.
"He's had a problem, but the crowd really like him, he's settling down now and we'll see what happens.
"I understand how he feels. I know the lad from my time at Villa with him, he is a heck of a lad, he really is, very popular in the dressing room too."
Gardner is expected to retain his place in the starting line-up at the Riverside tomorrow, but O'Neill is set to shuffle his attacking pack after resting Fraizer Campbell at the weekend.
Campbell is likely to return to the starting XI, having scored Sunderland's equaliser in the original tie at the Stadium of Light, with David Meyler the midfielder most likely to drop out to accommodate the former Manchester United striker's return.
The Black Cats' back four should remain unchanged as neither Bridge nor Kyrgiakos are eligible for the replay, having signed after the original fourth-round tie.
Both new signings were unused substitutes at the weekend, although Bridge made a brief outing as a replacement in last week's 3-0 win over Norwich.
The 31-year-old's last senior start came against Sunderland during a loan spell at West Ham in the second half of last season, and given his lack of involvement with Manchester City in recent months, O'Neill is happy to ease him in gradually.
"He's just settling down," said the Northern Irishman. "I'm mindful he was thrown in at the deep end last year a bit with West Ham.
"That was thrust upon him, so I'd like him to see his surroundings a bit more. It was pleasing to get him into a game (against Norwich) and I'm sure that was encouraging enough for him.
"But it's about players getting in on merit, and if he can adjust in that position it means we can move Kieran (Richardson) around."
O'Neill has defended Meyler's conduct at the weekend in the wake of sustained criticism from Stoke boss Tony Pulis.
Pulis accused the midfielder of play acting in the wake of Robert Huth's dismissal, even though television replays clearly showed the former Middlesbrough defender making contact with Meyler's leg.
Stoke have appealed against Huth's straight red card, but O'Neill remains adamant referee Martin Atkinson made the right decision.
"I thought at the time it was a red," he said. "And I watched the incident back again on Sunday. It was a poor challenge and, given the conditions, the referee had very little alternative.
"While Tony's point about players in general has merit, David Meyler is absolutely and utterly not one of them.
"This young lad has had an injury-stricken career and naturally was doing his utmost to avoid the challenge. He was still caught though."