As Sunderland’s players fix their attentions on Saturday’s seismic match at Crystal Palace, John O’Shea has taken preparations into his own hands as he helps the new recruits settle in.
Joleon Lescott, Darron Gibson and Bryan Oviedo joined David Moyes’ side during the January transfer window, as the Scot looks to bolster his options for the second-half of the season.
With anticipation rising ahead of this weekend’s trip to the capital, O’Shea helped the new faces get to know a bit about the local area by taking them to visit Penshaw Monument on Thursday afternoon.
And speaking to safc.com, Oviedo, 26, hailed the value of the getting to know who and what the lads are fighting for as he hopes to make his Black Cats debut on Saturday.
“It is a very beautiful view although it is a little breezy out there,” he smiled.
“It is very nice but for me it is very good to be here and get to know about this beautiful monument in Sunderland.
“It’s great for us to know about Sunderland itself because we are part of the city and we need to know what we need to protect in games as well as in the city.
“This weekend is a vital game and we need to play very well, we need to get three points off Crystal Palace and we need to play like it’s a final because it’s that important for us,” he continued.
“I’m ready to play and I have been training every day – I’m just excited now and very keen to make my first appearance for Sunderland.”
