Jozy Altidore considers future at Sunderland

USA international striker Jozy Altidore has scored just one Premier League goal in 33 appearances for Sunderland

Sunderland striker Jozy Altidore has revealed that he may look to leave the Premier League club in January if he does not start to feature more heavily for the Black Cats.

In truth he has struggled to have an impact at the Stadium of Light.

January

The striker revealed he may have to consider his options in January.

Talking to the press prior to USA’s friendly against Ecuador he said: “I thought I’ve done everything I could this season to come in as fit as possible with the injury (suffered at the World Cup) and try to make an impact when I’ve played.

“But, like I said, this four years I want to be part of the national team. Jurgen makes his message very clear, nobody is different, so if it doesn’t turn around, then in January I’ll be looking to start elsewhere and make sure that I’m in his plans.”

Out-of favour

Altidore is currently out-of-favour with Black Cats boss Gus Poyet, who has choose to use the likes of Connor Wickham and Steven Fletcher ahead of the USA international. The 24-year-old has made just four Premier League substitute appearances this season, amounting to just 57 minutes on the pitch.

He has failed to make a Premier League start and seems to be well down the pecking order of strikers at the Stadium of Light.

Goals

Altidore’s scoring record in the Premier League in two spells is poor to say the least. The striker has scored just one top-flight goal in 33 appearances for the Black Cats and previously also only scored one league goal for Hull in 28 league appearances during a loan spell on Humberside.

Altidore arrived at Sunderland on the back of two prolific seasons in the Dutch Eredivisie with AZ Alkmaar. In 67 top-flight Dutch games he scored 39 goals, which in any league is a good scoring rate. The season before he joined the Black Cats Altidore scored 31 goals in all competitions for AZ.

At 24-years-old and on the back of that prolific goalscoring season it seemed the perfect time for Altidore to come back to the Premier League and prove his worth. In the summer of 2013 he did just that moving to Wearside for an undisclosed fee.

Unfortunately goals have been at a premium for the USA international in the English top-flight with Sunderland. Strikers are judged on goals and Altidore has not scored them simple as that really. His record of 23 goals in 71 appearances for the USA national side is not terrible considering the fact that he is still 24.

Limitations

At first glance Altidore seems to be made for the Premier League. He is well-built and has pace, two good attributes to have in the Premier League. For a player of his size though he is quite often out-muscled too easily by defenders.

He is also not the most technically gifted striker in the top-flight. Other strikers with limitations have been a success in the Premier League, but they have found ways of scoring goals in the top-flight.

Fans, managers and teammates will accept the technically limited striker when he is finding the net. Altidore has not and that is why he is currently looking surplus to requirements at the Stadium of Light.

Suited

There have been numerous cases of players not being suited to the Premier League and shining in other European leagues. Some player’s strengths are suited to certain leagues and some players strengths are not. Altidore shined in the Eredivisie and scored goals, which is his primary goal as a striker.

Maybe a move back to the Dutch top-flight would suit the striker, because it seems his strengths are not suited to the Premier League. It looks like it is time for Jozy Altidore to realise that his talents are better served outside the Premier League.

Jozy Altidore’s career has stalled in the north east and a move in January may just re-ignite his flagging career and help him maintain his presence in the USA national team.

Should Jozy Altidore leave Sunderland in January?