Transfer news: Gus Poyet will not ostracise Cabral at Sunderland

Gus Poyet will not be making Cabral an outcast at Sunderland, but admits the midfielder is unlikely to play very often and could be on the move in January.

The 26-year-old was drafted in to the Stadium of Light by former director of football Roberto De Fanti in 2013, but made just one Premier League appearance before falling out of favour.

The Cape Verde international went on to spend the second half of last season on loan at Serie A side Genoa, but returned to England over the summer.

A move to Russia was mooted during the recent transfer window, but no move materialised and Cabral now finds himself back on the fringes of the fold at Sunderland.

We signed the player for a reason. Then it doesn’t work under the new manager, but you’re not going to put a gun to his head and say ‘leave the football club’. I’m not that type of person.

Poyet has, however, told the Echo that he is prepared to give every member of his squad displaying a positive attitude an opportunity to prove their worth.

He said: “It’s clear that Cabral had a few options, but at the end they couldn’t finalise. It looked like he was going to go somewhere, but he’s under contract.

“I always say that when these situations arise, I don’t think it’s right to make someone responsible.

“We signed the player for a reason. Then it doesn’t work under the new manager, but you’re not going to put a gun to his head and say ‘leave the football club’. I’m not that type of person.

“He’s a great lad and a great professional. I’m making the decision that he’s not playing. It’s not his fault, it’s me.

“Can he go in January? I don’t know. I thought he would have been one of the easiest ones to deal with in the summer.”

Poyet added on his desire to avoid ostracising anyone: “If he trains properly and is professional, he’s with us, because he’s a first-team player.

“Now, if there’s anyone - and I’m talking about anyone - that I think it’s better not to train with us, then he won’t. But at the moment, Cabral has been great.

“He’s been asking to play in the reserves, so why are you going to put him over there (training with the kids)?

“But that doesn’t mean he’s going to play.”