Sat 21st Nov - Stadium of Light
By Chris Burton Last updated: 23rd June 2008
O'Donovan: Difficult first season
Roy O'Donovan is hoping to still be a Sunderland player by the time the 2008/09 season gets underway.
The Irish striker has been attracting interest from SPL side Dundee United, despite making 19 goalless appearances for the Black Cats during the last campaign.
However, at 22-years-old he is still learning his trade and feels that his development would be better served at the Stadium of Light.
"As far as I'm concerned, I'm still a Sunderland player and I'm just enjoying my holidays at the moment," O'Donovan told the Sunderland Echo.
"I know there was a rumour about me going to Dundee United on loan when I first came to Sunderland so maybe that's where the story has come from now.
"Nothing has been said to me about a move so I'm just looking forward to pre-season training with Sunderland."
The Republic of Ireland B international admits that he endured a tricky first season in England but expects to be better equipped to cope with the demands of Premier League football next term.
"It was difficult," he said.
"I think I improved and got more accustomed to it as time went on but next season is a big one for me.
"Hopefully I can get off on the right foot and progress nicely."
Sunderland manager Roy Keane will have a wealth of attacking options at his disposal next season, with O'Donovan vying with Kenwyne Jones, Michael Chopra, Daryl Murphy, Anthony Stokes, Rade Prica and Martyn Waghorn for a starting spot.
The competition for places will present O'Donovan with a considerable challenge, although Keane admits that the youngster remains in his thoughts.
"We've thrown Roy in at the deep end - he didn't have the benefits of a season in English football before coming into the Premier League, like (fellow Irishmen) Shane Long and Kevin Doyle did at Reading.
"But he'll be a better player next season for the experience."

Bent aims for World Cup place
Sunderland 1-0 Arsenal - Le Tissier
Burnley 1-1 Aston Villa - O'Neill
Sunderland 1-0 Arsenal - Wenger
Sunderland 1-0 Arsenal - Bruce
Tottenham 2-0 Sunderland - Thompson
Tottenham 2-0 Sunderland - Redknapp
Tottenham 2-0 Sunderland - Bruce
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 28th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Wigan vs Sunderland |
| Sunday 6th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Fulham vs Sunderland |
| Saturday 12th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Sunderland vs Portsmouth |
| Tuesday 15th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Sunderland vs Aston Villa |
| Saturday 19th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Man City vs Sunderland |
| Saturday 26th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Sunderland vs Everton |
| Monday 28th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Sunderland |
| Saturday 9th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Sunderland vs Bolton |
| Saturday 16th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Sunderland |
| Wednesday 27th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | Everton vs Sunderland |
| Monday 1st February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | Sunderland vs Stoke |
| Saturday 6th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Sunderland vs Wigan |
| Tuesday 9th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Portsmouth vs Sunderland |
| Saturday 20th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Arsenal vs Sunderland |
| Saturday 27th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Sunderland vs Fulham |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Saturday 21st November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 1 - 0 Arsenal | |
| Saturday 7th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Tottenham 2 - 0 Sunderland | |
| Saturday 31st October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 2 - 2 West Ham | |
| Tuesday 27th October | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Sunderland 0 - 0 Aston Villa | |
| Saturday 24th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Birmingham 2 - 1 Sunderland | |
| Saturday 17th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 1 - 0 Liverpool | |
| Saturday 3rd October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 2 - 2 Sunderland | |
| Sunday 27th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 5 - 2 Wolverhampton | |
| Tuesday 22nd September | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Sunderland 2 - 0 Birmingham | |
| Saturday 19th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Burnley 3 - 1 Sunderland | |
| Saturday 12th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 4 - 1 Hull | |
| Saturday 29th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Stoke 1 - 0 Sunderland | |
| Monday 24th August | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Norwich 1 - 4 Sunderland | |
| Saturday 22nd August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 2 - 1 Blackburn | |
| Tuesday 18th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 1 - 3 Chelsea | |
| Saturday 15th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Bolton 0 - 1 Sunderland | |
| Saturday 8th August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Hearts 1 - 1 Sunderland | |
| Wednesday 5th August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Durham City 1 - 4 Sunderland | |
| Tuesday 4th August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Peterborough 0 - 2 Sunderland | |
| Saturday 1st August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Celtic 1 - 2 Sunderland | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Manchester City | 12 | 21 |
| 7 | Liverpool | 13 | 20 |
| 8 | Sunderland | 13 | 20 |
| 9 | Stoke City | 13 | 19 |
| 10 | Burnley | 13 | 17 |
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