Sunderland’s Kaboul bemoans lack of pre-season

Ian Watson
Younes Kaboul

Younes Kaboul: Joined up with Sunderland three weeks before the season

Sunderland defender Younes Kaboul claims he has suffered for the lack of a pre-season but insists he is feeling fitter with each game.

Kaboul joined Sunderland from Tottenham on July 16 – three weeks before the start of the season – but the French centre-half insists he is still some way from top form.

He told the Daily Mail: “I’m still a bit far from my best because I didn’t have a pre-season, but I’m working hard every day in training to make sure that I’m at it at the weekend.

“I felt better against Villa and I felt better again on Saturday so step by step I will get there.”

Kaboul is just one of the Sunderland new boys to be feeling their way into the season. Manager Dick Advocaat insisted earlier this week that the Black Cats would see the benefit for giving his new signings game time to build their fitness.