O´Neill won´t be tempted by Euro form

Sunderland manager Martin O’Neill will avoid the temptation to sign players based solely on a good performance at Euro 2012.

The Black Cats signed a stand-out performer from the 2010 World Cup when Asamoah Gyan arrived for 13 million pounds, but the Ghanaian has since left the club on loan after making just 37 appearances.

O’Neill insists he will look for the best players available but will remain cautious of potential one-hit wonders this summer.

“I’m not so sure that you should be buying players based on European Championships or World Cups,” O’Neill told The Sunderland Echo.

“I did it once at Celtic and bought a lad called Joos Valgaeren, who actually turned out to be brilliant for us. There are one or two exceptions to everything, of course.

“But, on principle, I wouldn’t do it because I’ve seen the players you get. I’d rather concentrate on what their league form is.”

However, the 60-year-old says that does not mean he will avoid European players. In fact, he has recently returned from a scouting trip on the continent.

At previous club Aston Villa, O’Neill mainly signed home-grown players but is keen to dispel the myth that he avoids overseas players and prefers to buy players in the latter stages of the transfer window.

He continued: “If I was only going to buy British players then I wouldn’t go abroad to watch football matches.

“People have always said I do my shopping late. I would prefer to have the players in early if it’s possible, but sometimes you can’t do it.”