Sunderland AFC news: Promotion rivals turn down bids for 25-goal striker, Black Cats cast eye over trialist, Sunderland Ladies return to training

Ahead of the game, we take a look at all of the latest news and talk doing the rounds as Sunderland take another player on trial, Peterborough United receive bids for their star man and Sunderland Ladies return to training:

Sunderland take Gateshead youngster on trial

Sunderland are set to take Gateshead youngster Nelson Ogbewe on trial.

The news comes after the 18-year-old youngster scored against the Black Cats in a behind closed doors friendly earlier this week

The 18-year-old put pen to paper on his first professional contract with the Gateshead earlier this month.

He signed a two-year deal with the National League North outfit.

Peterborough United turn down offers for star striker

Barry Fry has revealed Posh turned down multiple bids for top scorer Jonson Clarke-Harris in January

The director of football also said he expects the 26-year-old to the subject of heavy interest in the summer.

As per the Peterborough Telegraph, Fry was responding to various reports in the last 24 hours linking Clarke-Harris to Rangers, Sheffield United, West Brom and Bournemouth.

Fry said: “There were several Championship clubs chasing Jonson in January and Bournemouth were the most persistent. We had several offers for the player, but we turned them down flat, even though we could probably get five times what we paid for him.

“We want promotion this season so there’s no way we would have let him go. It was the same situation with Ivan Toney last season. We could have sold him in January, but we were never going to. The owners have done great to resist cashing in at a time when football clubs are struggling financially.

“Rangers have been to a lot of our matches this season and they were there on Saturday (they saw Clarke-Harris score a hat-trick in a 7-0 win over Accrington). Sheffield United were also there, but West Brom weren’t.

“I didn’t have a conversation about Jonson with any of them though.

“Like with Ivan, we don’t have a single concern that transfer talk will affect Jonson. He is single-minded and his focus is entirely on winning promotion with us.

“He’s a humble man who constantly gives the praise to his teammates.”

Sunderland Ladies return to training ahead of FA Cup clash with Sheffield FC

Sunderland Ladies have returned to training at the Academy of Light following a three-month lay-off, the club has confirmed.

The FA last week announced their intention to declare the Women's National League North null and void for the second season in succession but the FA Cup is set to continue.

That means the Lasses will face Sheffield FC in the FA Cup on April 4.

The second-round clash was supposed to be played at the Stadium of Light on January 3.

But government restrictions saw the fixture postponed. It will now be played behind closed doors at the Academy of Light.

If the Ladies come through that fixture, they will face Burnley or Fylde away in the third round on April 11.

If they win again, Sunderland could face Manchester United at home in the fourth round on April 18.

Indeed, Sunderland could be set for a cash boost should the Ladies team embark on a cup run.

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