Jon Stead says he has no regrets over swapping Blackburn for Sunderland.
Jon Stead says he has no regrets over swapping Blackburn Rovers for Sunderland.Stead made a bright start to his Ewood Park career after a shock move from Huddersfield in 2004, but he found himself down the pecking order following Mark Hughes' arrival at the helm.
With little chance of first team football at Rovers, Stead opted to move to Sunderland and although he has failed to score for the cellar dwellers - the gangly forward claims he is content with his decision to head to the North East.
"It was difficult at Blackburn," said the 22-year-old. "The change of manager threw me completely.
"When the new people came into the club, I didn't feel comfortable. It didn't feel like the place I had moved to.
"I didn't feel welcome and it wasn't a nice place to be. It was strange but I don't think I'm going back there with anything to prove.
"To be honest, I'm not bothered what the manager there thinks of me.
"I'm doing everything now for Sunderland and that's who I want to impress.
"It makes a massive difference to know you have the confidence of the manager behind you.
"He's shown confidence in me and paying that back is at the top of my list at the minute."
Stead will get the chance to put one over on Hughes when the two teams meet on Wednesday and the Rovers chief is aware the striker may look to prove a point.
"Jon may think he has a bit to prove and there is always the danger a player will return to a former club and score," he said.
"Jon is a good player but the decision to let him go was right - I'm happy I made it.
"You do fear that when you let good strikers go they will come back and catch you out, but I hope that does not happen."
