Black Cats ace hails squad as 'the best'

Andy Reid claims the current Sunderland squad is 'the best I have played in' following the impressive start to the new season.

The bustling 27-year-old midfielder has been one of the major plus points for Steve Bruce's side this season as he has been influential in helping the Black Cats to within two points of the Premier League's top-four places. And, having been part of the squad for the past two campaigns in which Sunderland have had to scrap for survival, Reid feels this current set up is streets ahead of what he has been used to so far at the Stadium of Light.
Following on from Saturday's 2-2 draw at Manchester United, Reid told the Echo: "I love it here, I really do, things are going really well and it's been good news all round.
"This is probably the happiest I have been since I joined Sunderland. Sunderland is a good place to be at the moment and I am very happy, but that all stems from results.
"If you're playing rubbish and getting hammered every week there will be an air of doom and gloom about the place.
"That's how football clubs work - results are the be all and end all. We've had some good results apart from the Stoke and Burnley games. But for me this is definitely the best Sunderland team I have played in.
"I always felt when I came here that we would progress and progress. We are a lot stronger than we ever have been.
"Although the squad isn't big, the manager feels he can trust any one of those players to go in and do a job.
"That's probably a nice feeling for him because I wouldn't imagine that was the case for Sunderland managers before him.
"We are a closer-knit group, and having a smaller squad keeps everyone interested.
"People don't feel that they are seven injuries and a long run in the reserves from being in the first team.
"Everyone knows they have a chance. If someone doesn't perform or you do well in training then you have a chance.
"That is a massive thing because there's nothing worse as a player feeling you have no chance of playing no matter what you do."