Lee Johnson playing transfer waiting game as he outlines the two Sunderland additions he'd like to make

The Sunderland head coach said after the 3-0 win over AFC Wimbledon that he felt he would land one more signing after bringing Carl Winchester to the club, and hoped to add two.

The head coach has regularly warned of the challenges the Black Cats face in the market, though.

Johnson is working with a threadbare recruitment department that has been significantly cut back since relegation to League One, while the club are also operating near the limit of both the salary and squad size cap.

The Black Cats are nevertheless eager to add a 'different dynamic' in the final third, particularly as there are some ongoing concerns over injuries to Will Grigg and Danny Graham.

Johnson also wants to add another naturally left-footed full-back, with Denver Hume potentially missing for two months after suffering a recurrence of a hamstring injury.

"We've found some good pace and power in Jack Diamond but we're always looking to stretch opponents as much as possible, so we're always looking for that willing running," Johnson told safc.com.

"It's not always about being lightning quick, you've just got to be willing to run your absolute maximum a lot, and to be able to repeatedly sprint and recover.

"That's something we could look to add, but it's not easy by the way. That's the prized asset, what people want and what you have to pay the money for.

"But we are looking for a slightly different profile higher up the pitch.

"And then, as I've talked about, potentially someone to compete with Callum McFadzean at left-back.

"We could do with someone to share the load a bit now that Denver is injured."

New additions are not thought to be imminent at this stage.

The salary cap limitations mean that Sunderland are likely to next look at the loan market, with players under the age of 21 exempt from the restrictions.

Johnson has been utilising his contacts at Premier League academies, having enjoyed lots of success with Bristol City through this approach.

He told The Echo on Monday that the club were 'in the mix' for their preferred targets.

While at this stage arrivals look more likely in the latter stages of the window, Johnson said that was something which could quickly change.

"We're in the mix," Johnson said.

"These things can seem a long way off but the landscape quickly changes and all of a sudden someone is on their way for a medical.

"There are players who are aware of our interest, there's agents and clubs aware of our interest.Whether or not we can get them over the line is probably out of my hands, I'd say I'm more talent ID in the process here, than anything else.

"It's important that we bring the right personalities in, as well as the right footballing attributes, because we're trying to build a culture here as well as a winning football team."

A message from the Football Clubs Editor

Our aim is to provide you with the best, most up-to-date and most informative Sunderland AFC coverage 365 days a year.

This depth of SAFC coverage costs, so to help us maintain the high-quality reporting that you are used to, please consider taking out a subscription to our new sports-only package here.

Your support is much appreciated. Richard Mennear, Football Clubs Editor