Phil Bardsley is grateful to new boss Gus Poyet for saving his Sunderland career. The 28-year-old full-back looked to be heading out of the Stadium of Light during the summer when he was made available for transfer after a much-publicised visit to a casino.
Bardsley, who spent pre-season training with the Under-21s, said: "When you are not playing and you are out in the cold, it's difficult. It's difficult for your family, for your friends.
"You ask anyone in football and when you are not playing, you are not happy. It's as simple as that.
"I wasn't playing and it looked like my Sunderland career was well and truly over, to be honest.
"The manager has brought me back and shown faith in me and I owe him a lot for doing that.
"I felt myself that I owed this football club even more and hopefully I can continue doing that."
