Sunderland new boy DeAndre Yedlin has revealed he spoke to United States team-mate Jozy Altidore about the club before signing - and still headed for the Stadium of Light.
Altidore endured a nightmare 18 months on Wearside after making a £6.5million switch from Dutch club AZ Alkmaar.
The striker managed just a single Barclays Premier League goal in 42 appearances and three in total before heading back across the Atlantic as part of the deal which saw Jermain Defoe return to England from Toronto in January.
However, he had only good things to say about the club and the area when defender Yedlin, who signed a season-long loan deal from Tottenham on September 1, sought his counsel.
Asked if he had spoken to Altidore before making his move,the 22-year-old told SAFSee: "I did, yes. He just mentioned it's a great club.
"Obviously his time football-wise up here, he didn't have the best time, but he said it's a great club, great people.
"The weather isn't the best, but I'm used to that from where I'm from in Seattle, so it's not a big deal for me."
Yedlin was in the crowd for Sunday's 1-0 defeat by parent club Spurs as he was ineligible under the terms of the loan agreement, but saw enough from his new team-mates to be excited about forcing his way into head coach Dick Advocaat's plans.
He said: "It was great. I didn't really know exactly what to expect and when I saw the atmosphere and just saw how hard the team competed and how well they did, it was great for me to watch.
"It just made me want to get on to the field even more, and I am excited for whenever my chance comes."
Source: PA
