---
title: "Sunderland: Australian defender reflects on Black Cats experience"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/sunderland-australian-defender-reflects-on-black-cats-experience/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Ben Crump"
section: "League One News"
published: "2020-07-08T09:30:48Z"
modified: "2020-07-08T09:30:48Z"
---

# Sunderland: Australian defender reflects on Black Cats experience

**Australian defender Matthew Jurman has [reflected](https://www.ftbl.com.au/news/wanderers-a-league-star-recalls-incredible-sunderland-experience-550094/page0) on his time with Sunderland and revealed that he would like to return one day.**

The 30-year-old has recently seen his [contract expire](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/matthew-jurman/profil/spieler/68499) at Western Sydney Wanderers and is available on a free transfer this summer.

Having spent the majority of his career in his homeland winning the [A-League title on three occasions](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/matthew-jurman/erfolge/spieler/68499), Jurman also had a spell in the Saudi Pro League with Al-Ittihad.

With Sunderland now looking to bolster their side ahead of a third spell in League One after failing to gain promotion to the Championship for a second successive season, Jurman has seemingly offered himself to the Wearside club.

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/THE-BREAKDOWN.png)

Speaking to [FTBL](https://www.ftbl.com.au/news/wanderers-a-league-star-recalls-incredible-sunderland-experience-550094/page0), Jurman [who had a trial with Sunderland at the age of 18](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/australia-international-reflects-sunderland-youth-18557609), said: *“I’d been in Scotland trialling but after they said they wanted me back in pre-season. So I got a trial at Middlesbrough.*

*“Then I got a chance to trial with Sunderland. I was at Sunderland for a week. The facilities at the training centre in Sunderland were absolutely unbelievable.*

*“While I was there I watched one of Sunderland’s Cup games at the Stadium of Light. Honestly, it was incredible.*

*“I stayed near the water in Roker I think, and they really looked after me. It was a nice place.*

*“I have good memories. Seeing all the training facilities. Everything was really professional. I met Roy Keane \[then Sunderland manager\] but I was a bit intimidated by someone like him. I was excited to meet him but I mainly worked with Sunderland’s youth coaches.*

*“And while I was training at Sunderland, they had another young player called Jordan Henderson. I’m a Liverpool fan and now he’s their captain, so that was pretty amazing and I recall the striker Martyn Waghorn was there, too.*

*“It’d be a mad experience to play at a club like Sunderland.*

*“You don’t quite know where you’ll be with the way the world is now, but that’s also quite exciting.”*

Aside from Jurman’s comments, the [FTBL article](https://www.ftbl.com.au/news/wanderers-a-league-star-recalls-incredible-sunderland-experience-550094/page0) also comments on Sunderland reported plans to sign Australian defender Bailey Wright this summer.

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Verdict.png)

Why not have a look at Jurman if you are Sunderland? Linking him up with Bailey Wright could be a good thing.

Indeed, the Black Cats do need new recruits at centre-back given that they have already [lost three players](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/sunderland-afc/transfers/verein/289/plus/0?saison_id=2020&pos=&detailpos=&w_s=) in that position this summer, including Alim Ozturk.

One thing that may halt a potential deal for Jurman to Sunderland is the fact that he has never played in English football before, and that could be a gamble in itself. But in the current climate where all walks of life are facing [financial restraints](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52236936), he could be worth a punt on a free.

***Do you think Jurman would be a good signing for Sunderland? Let us know in the comments section below…***