Gyan was made to sing to players before debut

Ghanaian striker Asamoah Gyan did not need too much persuading to sing in front of his new Sunderland team-mates in the hotel on the eve of his debut.

And while he was satisfied his voice had made a favourable impression on Darren Bent and Co, his stunning opening goal for the Black Cats has offered a flavour of what could be to come from the man nicknamed BabyJet.

This might have been an outing at the DW Stadium that will be remembered for Lee Cattermole’s second sending off of the season, as much as it will be noted as the occasion when the £13m record buy got off the mark.

But it is safe to assume the air of negativity, which would have hung around the club had ten-man Sunderland not passionately claimed a point, has been significantly reduced, mainly through the ability of Gyan.

It was not so much that the 24-year-old stood out more than anyone else in the team. Goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, defender Titus Bramble and the energetic Jordan Henderson played more pivotal roles.

But when Gyan was asked to do what he was bought to do, score goals, he obliged – and in style.

The Ghananian striker’s dancing celebrations which became one of the lasting memories of this summer’s World Cup were there for all to see, even if he found himself having to cut his routine short because of weary legs.

“Physically I was down. I only trained twice in 15 days and it was very, very difficult for me, I was very tired,” said Gyan, who is well known in his home country for singing with Ghana rap star Castro The Destroyer.

“But the goal restored my confidence and it helped me.

“I did a couple of dances but I was really tired so I didn’t want to continue. I didn’t sing though. Not this time. I did sing for them before the match, Darren Bent asked me to.

“It was a song by Buju Banton, a Jamaican reggae singer.

If you’re a new player in the team you have to sing to everybody. I was good.

“Of course they thought I was good, they were happy with it. They’ve seen my musical videos so they know I can do it.”

If his team-mates know he can sing, they are also now well aware of his ability to find the net when it matters.

Gyan might have struggled to impress outside the box on his first outing for the Black Cats, but the Black Stars’ hero converted his side’s only shot on target.