'Tony Mowbray wanted me' - New Sunderland signing lifts lid on January move

Sunderland midfield Callum Styles has opened up on his complicated January switch and the 'gutting' complication that almost saw it collapse.

Callum Styles has revealed that Tony Mowbray was keen to bring him to Sunderland with the club tracking him ‘for a few windows.’

Styles joined the Black Cats on deadline day on an initial loan deal, but all parties are expecting it to be made permanent in the summer.

The midfielder had to wait for his debut due to appendix surgery, and he feared that was going to torpedo his move to the north east.

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However, he is happy to have finally joined Sunderland, whose interest it seems had been quite long-standing.

"The interest has been around for a few windows and the old manager Mowbray wanted me in, then Michael Beale wanted me in," Styles said.

"It just came around in January and I just thought to play at the highest level I can and for a big team like this I’d love to do it.

“Obviously I didn’t expect to have the operation, that came out of nowhere, but we got it over the line which is the main thing.

"As soon as I found out I had to have an operation I just thought that’s me done for the season. I didn’t know much about it.

"It was gutting, especially with a team like Sunderland [wanting me], but it ended up going though which is the main thing and I’m buzzing to be here and I'm just excited to be with this team.

The surgeon then said six to eight weeks I’d be back and I’m back in four weeks.”

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