Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill has claimed that loan signing Kader Mangane needs to work on his fitness before he can make an impact in the Premier League.

The Senegal defender joined the Wearsiders on a six-month loan deal from Al-Hilal last week but O'Neill believes that Mangane is not ready to play yet.

"He's got a great physique and presence and certainly has what it takes to do the job," O'Neill told the Daily Star.

"But it's fair to say that Kader's a little bit behind the rest of the lads in terms of fitness. Once he's fully fit, he'll be pushing for a start in a position where we've been really stretched of late.

"Whenever a loan signing comes in from abroad, part of the deal is that there has to be an option at the end of the deal for a permanent signing and that's the case with Kader."

Sunderland face Swansea City in the Premier League on Tuesday evening.

Written by
Steven Toplis