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Ki to Success

January 13, 2014

Korean MF on loan from Swansea scores third goal in less than a month 

to pull Sunderland out of EPL cellar…boss says they’ll try to keep him 

Sunderland's Ki Sung-Yueng, right, celebrates his goal against Fulham with teammates during their English Premier League soccer match at Craven Cottage, London, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2014. (AP Photo/Sang Tan)

Sunderland’s Ki Sung-Yueng, right, celebrates his goal against Fulham with teammates during their English Premier League soccer match at Craven Cottage, London, on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2014. (AP Photo / Sang Tan)

By Lee Kyutae

Korean midfielder Ki Sung-yeung has been impressive enough. Now, the Sunderland boss Gus Poyet wants to keep him.

The famous 24-year old husband of Korean actress Han Hye-jin, 32, scored a goal and assisted on another as Sunderland lifted themselves off the bottom of the English Premier League (EPL) for only the first time in five weeks.

Sunderland, behind Adam Johson’s hat trick and Ki’s heroics, blasted Fulham 4-1 on the road Saturday.

Ki, arguably the best kicker on the Korean national team, has scored three goals in less than a month since being loaned to Sunderland from Swansea City on December 18th, including the overtime stunner that sank mighty Chelsea in League Cup game.

Sunderland’s Uruguayan manager admitted after the game that he will try to tempt the Swansea midfielder into making a full-time move. He went on to praise Ki, saying, “He cares and he’s enjoying his new position a bit further up the pitch and making a difference. I want players with that mentality, to make us play, and he’s been excellent. He’s been the most consistent player for me, in my way of playing.”

Swansea could have been recalled Ki earlier last week but, to Sunderland’s relief, Swansea boss Michael Laudrup decided against it.