Sunderland striker Steven Fletcher has completed a surprise transfer deadline day move to Ligue 1 side Marseille.

Out of favour

The Scotland international has been out of favour at Stadium of Light and has failed to hold down a regular spot under Sam Allardyce, making just 11 starts so far this campaign.

Hs goal scoring record hasn’t fared any better, with just four strikes for the Black Cats, which has seen him make the loan move to Ligue 1 until the end of the season. He could make his debut on Tuesday against Montpellier.

North East revolution

The 28-year-old has had a stagnated career on Wearisde since his £12 million move from Wolverhampton Wanderers back in 2012, managing just 23 goals in the 102 appearances for the club.

It's been a tough old spell on Wearside for Fletcher. | Photo: ITV
It's been a tough old spell on Wearside for Fletcher. | Photo: ITV

Fletcher, who has six months remaining at the Stadium of Light, becomes the third player from the North-East to join the Ligue 1 club on loan - with the Newcastle United pairing of Remy Cabella and Florian Thauvin also making the move to the Stade Velodrome.

Chopping and changing

It has been a very busy window for Allardyce and his staff as he focused on freeing up funds to allow more players to come into the Stadium of Light to help in their increasingly difficult relegation battle.

Fletcher became the seventh player to leave the North-East this month - following in the footsteps of Danny Graham, Sebastian Coates, Costel Pantilimon, Charis Mavrias, Will Buckley and Liam Bridcutt, with only Pantilimon's move being a permanent one.

This has been countered with a number of additions by Allardyce, with Jan Kirchoff, Dame N’Doye, Steve Harper, Lamine Kone and Wahbi Khazri also coming in - the latter the latest arrival after he completed his £9 million move from French side Bordeaux over the weekend.

Sunderland will host Manchester City at the Stadium of Light on Tuesday 2 February, with kick-off at 7:45PM BST.

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About the author
Danial  Kennedy
Award-winning sports journalism graduate. Currently studying a PR Masters at the University of Sunderland. Writing for VAVEL since August 2014. Twitter - @ddkjournalism.