Squad 10 new signings short of being contenders

THE new season is less than three weeks away, Sunderland are two games into their pre-season programme and already one thing is clear – Jack Ross still has a lot of work to do to build a squad capable of mounting a promotion challenge.

Against non-league opposition in the shape of Darlington and Hartlepool United, the Black Cats looked toothless up front and conceded goals in both games due to central defensive errors.

At this stage of pre-season, results are not the be-all and end-all as – particularly in these early games – players are being eased back into action and given game-time. However, the performances have been less than stellar and they have drawn attention to the areas Ross already knows need strengthening.

He has brought in half a dozen new faces already but, in two key departments - strikers and central defenders - the squad is lightweight in the extreme.

Teenager Josh Maja is the only out-and-out striker he can call upon, while Alim Ozturk’s hip injury has meant full-back Donald Love has had to be drafted in as a stop-gap central defender.

Ross expected between eight and 10 new signings to arrive this summer, and at this point it looks like 10 would be the minimum required to reinforce the squad ready for life in League One.

Ross has said Sunderland need to off-load players before they can bring in more new blood - and that is proving a stumbling block.

The low-hanging fruit has already been picked.

The club’s most-saleable asset, Paddy McNair, moved to Middlesbrough for £5m.

They cashed in on talented teen Joel Asoro, who joined Swansea City for £2m.

The weeping sore which was Jack Rodwell has been paid off, Jason Steele has been given away and a collection of out-of-contract players released but - as the previous regime discovered - the new owners cannot wish away problem players.

Wahbi Khazri, Didier Ndong, Papy Djilobodji and Lamine Kone are still in situ, trousering huge weekly wages without any intention of playing for the club next season.

Until these players exit, recouping fees and removing big salaries from the wage bill, Sunderland’s recruitment has, if not ground to a halt, certainly slowed to a crawl.