Wear boss is determined to hold on to his key players until August is out

JACK Ross does not expect to lose any of Sunderland’s key players this month.

While the Black Cats’ attempts to strengthen their squad received all the attention on transfer deadline day – although a move for Wigan Athletic midfielder Max Power would now have to be a loan – it is easy to forget clubs are also eyeing players on Wearside.

Whereas Sunderland are desperate to unload stayaway pair Papy Djilobodji and Didier Ndong, and others such as Lee Cattermole and Bryan Oviedo may leave this month for financial reasons, Ross has made it clear to owner Stewart Donald he wants to keep his core squad intact.

He said: “It is something which has been overlooked a bit because in and around everything else we are trying to do we have to remember we have players who are attractive to other teams.

“I have been pretty clear to Stewart t I would not like to lose any of those who I see as part of my plans, because we hve had to work hard to get them into a good frame of mind and feeling positive about themselves.” One player who Ross had planned to use this season was winger Callum McManaman - but once he said he was keen to rejoin Wigan last month the manager had no problem with him leaving. Ross added: “Callum left earlier in the window and he looked liked he would be an asset, but I have been quite strong and Stewart has been supportive of that.”

The Wearsiders they still need to bring in a striker to boost their wafer-thin attacking options, won-loan Watford man Jerome Sinclair’s hamstring injury leaving Josh Maja as their only frontman ahead of this weekend’s trip to Luton Town.

Even after yesterday’s deadline, Sunderland still have until the end of August to sign players on loan – and until noon today to sign a loan player in time to play at Luton.

Ross said: “We are trying hard to bring in a couple more but whether they will be done in time I am not so sure – Tony (Coton, head of recruitment) and Richard (Hill, head of football operations) look after that aspect of it.

“My time has been spent watching and identifying players and finding as much out about them as I possibly can before passing it on to them.

“With the loan window being open beyond today it makes it a little bit different – that option is still available to us and it is an important option for us to have because we are going into the weekend with only one striker in our squad in Josh.

“Whether we can get anyone in on a permanent basis or on loan in time for the weekend remains to be seen.”