Sunderland boss Steve Bruce says Korean striker Ji Dong-won has done his chances of earning a first-team spot for the start of the new Premier League term no harm after an impressive preseason.

The 20-year-old Korea international joined the Black Cats from K-League club Chunnam Dragons during the offseason after interest from PSV Eindhoven, Schalke and Newcastle.

Ji, who has 11 senior international caps to his name, scoring six goals, played in all three of Sunderland’s preseason games during their German tour.

Bruce said on the club’s website he had been impressed by the young Korean who was often deployed alone up front.

“Certainly Ji is one of the players who can go home and be very pleased with himself,” Bruce said.

“He has done very well.”

Ji had previously admitted it’d be hard to adjust to the Premier League and said he didn’t expect to walk straight into the Sunderland first team.

“It will not be easy. I am enjoying the life and studying English. I hope I could be a member of this team within six months,” Ji said in June. 

(Goal.com)