Phil Parkinson explains where Sunderland's January preparations stand and Stewart Donald's policy on incomings and outgoings

Some departures are expected in January, including that of Aiden McGeady, but Parkinson says he is not under pressure to move players on.

Parkinson is likely to look to the loan market for additions, while he has said previously that the chairman will back permanent additions if there is ‘value’.

He has also been reassured that Donald's decision to actively pursue a buyer will not alter preparations.

“There’s room to bring players in without anybody going,” he said.

“The owner has told us to focus on bringing players in first and foremost.

“Everybody knows that if we end up with a surplus, one or two could go.

“The squad is not that large in terms of numbers so I’ve not been told I’m under pressure to move anyone on.”Parkinson is hoping for early additions but may have to remain patient, and the Black Cats boss says he believes the club are in a good position thanks to the expansion of head of recruitment Tony Coton’s network.

“Yesterday, we were speaking continually to chief executives, agents, managers, and you get a variety of different responses,” he said.

“Some players could be available after the fixtures on the fourth, others are still staying we need to get one in before we let players go.

“These are responses you expect.

“Our job is, and I’ve got to stress again, Tony Coton has only really this season been able to piece together the recruitment team that he wants.

“Everybody knows that when Stewart came in, everything was cut back to the bone ready to be built up.

“It’s only in the last few months, Tony now has the scout abroad that he wanted, the ones in England that he wanted, good quality people who’ve worked at a high level.

“The options they’re putting to us are good ones and positive, and now is the time to say, ‘right, bang, that’s the one we want to go for. If we can’t get him, we go for this one’.”