January transfer window looks like it's been a good one at Sunderland - for a change

First impressions aren’t always the most reliable and are by no means a guarantee of a glittering Sunderland career.

But on what I’ve seen so far, I’ve been impressed.

Jan Kirchhoff looks a different player to the hesitant, unconvincing centre-back we saw at Spurs, where he was clearly unfit and in hindsight, should never have been brought on.

In contrast, his performance against Manchester City deservedly earned him the Man of the Match award, where he bossed a star-studded midfield area.

Lamine Kone looks to have every attribute a top class centre-half needs and flattening Yaya Toure on his debut has already made him a fans’ favourite.

The Ivory Coast international hasn’t done much wrong in his two appearances for the club and has set the bar high now for the rest of his season.

Wahbi Khazri could be the most exciting signing for years.

He looks to have a good attitude, he works hard and the signs are there that there’s more to come from a young player with pace and vision.

Sam Allardyce also did business the other way, clearing out some of the dead-wood to ease a hefty wage-bill, and that had to be done.

I’ve got a feeling that come the summer, we’ll look back on the January window as a good one (for a change) but the question for now has to be, is it too little, too late?

Yes, good players appear to have been brought into the club, but we’re stuck in the drop zone, playing catch-up with an awful lot still to do if we’re to be watching Kone, Kirtchoff and Khazri in the Premier League next year.