O’Neill has no time to settle in

MARTIN O’NEILL may feel like the new kid in school but he knows there will be no chance to ease himself back into football as his Sunderland side meet fellow Premier League strugglers Blackburn tomorrow.

Sunderland could already be in the bottom three when they take to the pitch on Sunday depending on results elsewhere, but that will definitely be the case if they lose to Rovers, who currently sit one point and one place behind them.

That his team are at home will be of little comfort to O’Neill, given they have picked up only 13 points on Wearside in 2011, while this season’s tally of 16 goals in 14 games is another priority area for the new boss.