Phil Parkinson reflects on Sunderland's January business and Antoine Semenyo's brief debut at Portsmouth

Phil Parkinson says he is pleased with Sunderland’s ‘sensible’ January business and believes the chance to work with his five new additions on the training ground this week is key.
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Parkinson signed Antoine Semenyo and Declan John on loan deals until the end of the season on deadline day, having brought in Kyle Lafferty, Bailey Wright and Josh Scowen earlier in the month.

He also allowed four players to leave the club in Laurens De Bock, Dylan McGeouch, Aiden McGeady and Marc McNulty all leaving.

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Antoine Semenyo made a brief debut in the 2-0 defeat to Portsmouth at Fratton Park, but was unable to make much of an impact with Sunderland struggling and down to ten men following a serious head injury to Joel Lynch.

New Sunderland signing Antoine SemenyoNew Sunderland signing Antoine Semenyo
New Sunderland signing Antoine Semenyo

“I think we’ve done sensible business in terms of the ones we’ve got in,” Parkinson said.

“We’ve filled the spaces we wanted to fill and we have the opportunity this week to work with those lads.

“Josh hasn’t trained much, Declan wasn’t available today and Antoine [will benefit] from a week on the training ground.

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“It wasn’t ideal for him [coming on when he did] because we’ve had to move him round a couple of times positional wise because of the injury. We’re looking forward to working with him this week.”

Semenyo and Scowen are likely to push for a starting berth next week after a string of poor performances from Parkinson’s side at Fratton Park.

Lynch is also an obvious injury concern, while Charlie Wyke will also be a doubt due to a shoulder injury that forced him of at half-time.

Grant Leadbitter didn’t travel south due to a virus, and the decision not to loan out Ethan Robson means he will also push for a place in the matchday squad.

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“In this recent run we’ve had very few injuries, and then suddenly today we’ve had Joel and then Charlie,” Parkinson said.

“So we’re pleased to have got those reinforcements and we’re going to need them.

“Ethan is going to have to come in and fight for his place starting fron next and I know he will.”