Emmanuel Eboue's move to Sunderland depends on fitness, says Sam Allardyce

The 32-year-old was released by Turkish side Galatasaray last summer but is currently training with the Black Cats

Emmanuel Eboue (GETTY IMAGES)

Former Arsenal defender Emmanuel Eboue must prove his fitness if he wants to earn a contract at Sunderland, manager Sam Allardyce has said.

The 32-year-old was released by Turkish side Galatasaray last summer but is currently training with the Black Cats, trying to earn a short-term deal with the Premier League strugglers.

Allardyce, who failed with an attempt to sign Mathieu Debuchy last month on loan from the Gunners, is monitoring the Ivory Coast international before deciding on the merits of adding him to his squad.

“It’s a possibility,” he said. “There’s no hiding the fact that we were looking for that position, and that should spur the other lads in that position on say ‘you’re not going to replace me’.

“Billy has got a lot of experience and we’ve got DeAndre, who has got very little experience at this level.

“He [Yedlin] has got a lot of qualities but without that experience, it’s a massive ask to perform at the consistent level that you need to at this stage of the season, under the pressure that we’re all under.

“Emmanuel Eboue has got a fantastic pedigree at Arsenal and if he has got any capability to produce what he did at Arsenal, we’ll assess that over the next few weeks.

“Obviously he hasn’t played football for a long time, so the main question is can we get him fit?

“If we can get him fit, then he could produce the kind of performances that may benefit us. If so, he will put Billy Jones and DeAndre under pressure and, if not, he won’t be taken on.”