By Matt Storey
Adam Matthews has finally completed his loan move back to Bristol City.
The right back made nine appearances for City at the end of last season and has been a long term target for Lee Johnson.
The loan does not have a recall option in it and the 24-year old Welsh international is expected to go straight into the starting line-up for the Robins friendly against Portsmouth on Saturday.
Johnson was delighted to have got his man: “I’m pleased to have Adam back with us. He did very well at the back end of last season and certainly fits the bill in terms of quality and experience at this level.
“He’s still a good age. I know he enjoyed his time here last season and was delighted to come back, and I know the fans really took to him as well.”
Matthews has experience in both the Champions and Europa League from his time at Celtic and Sunderland paid £2 million for his services just last summer.
Injuries limited his playing time at the Stadium of Light to just two appearances before he was sent out on loan to City last season.
Although never being part of Sunderlands plans for the upcoming season the deal has taken longer than expected to go through, with the Black Cats reluctant to let Matthews leave before they found a suitable replacement.
That stance changed with David Moyes taking over at the Premier League side and the former Cardiff man was pleased to back at Ashton Gate
He told the offical website “I would have liked to have a fair crack up at Sunderland but it wasn’t to be. I’m very happy to be back here, obviously it’s been talked about for a while now and it’s just nice to get it done.”
