Sunderland AFC transfer news RECAP: Club release Gillingham away ticket details as Benji Kimpioka heads out on loan

Benji Kimpioka has shared his thoughts following his loan move to Southend United.

The attacker has joined the National League club on loan until January and will link up with former Hull City boss Phil Brown.

Kimpioka has made four appearances for Elliott Dickman’s Under-23 side this term but will now join up with the Shrimpers in the National League.

The 21-year-old enjoyed a loan stint at Torquay United last season but failed to register a goal or assist as Gary Johnson’s men lost in the National League play-off final to Hartlepool United.

The Swedish striker was then the subject of deadline day interest from Pools following their promotion to League Two but a move to Victoria Park failed to materialise.

Kimpioka said to Southend’s official website: “I’m buzzing to get the move over the line and be around the lads here at Southend. I’m looking forward to it.

“I had a little loan spell at Torquay where I was coming back from an injury, but it was a great learning experience for me. I’m just happy to get started here now.

“I want to learn as much as possible, I want to help the team and obviously help myself.

“It’s going to be a great challenge, I need it and I need to prove that I can do it at any level.”

Brown added: “He’s in a similar mould to Matty Dennis where he’s coming from a big club in a higher division. That kind of mentality I want to bring in.

“He’s got a couple of national team appearances at youth level for Sweden, technically that tells me he should be good enough to play in this division.

“The other thing is his pace. He’s lightning quick and possibly quicker than Matty Dennis.

“It puts a spanner in the works with regards to people who are thinking they’re comfortable and they’re going to get automatic choice. I’ve now got real competition for places and I’m looking forward to working with him.

“I’m delighted to bring him in, and he comes into the thinking for Saturday, but we will hopefully unleash him at some stage in the week, either Solihull, Eastleigh or Chesterfield.”

One question on the minds of supporters at the moment is whether or not Sunderland’s clash with Oxford United in League One will go ahead.

The game is penciled in to take place on Saturday, October 9 at the Stadium of Light.

However, the fixture falls at the beginning of the international break.

League One clubs are able to request a postponement if three of their players are called up for national teams.

During the last international break, the Wearsiders’ clash with Sheffield Wednesday was rescheduled.

Sunderland’s Tom Flanagan and Corry Evans have been called up to the Northern Ireland squad with Carl Winchester on standby.

And Niall Huggins has once again been selected to play for Wales’ Under-23s team, which means Sunderland can now postpone the game.

Much of whether they do or not, though, may depend on other call-ups.

Callum Doyle was included in the last England Under-19 squad, while Dennis Cirkin was given the nod for England’s Under-20 squad.

Doyle is suffering from a minor back injury at present, whilst Cirkin is making his way back from a concussion, so there remains the possibility that the Three Lions duo may not be selected.

With Sunderland now with three first-team players away on international duty next month, they can now request to postpone the match with Oxford United and are expected to do so, especially if more call-ups come.

One man that won’t be leaving Sunderland during the break is Ross Stewart, who missed out on the Scotland squad despite talk suggesting manager Steve Clarke had been scouting the striker.

West Ham loanee Frederik Alves has revealed the conversations he had with David Moyes before his move to Sunderland.

There were offers for Alves from NY Red Bulls, Blackburn and several other Championship clubs during the summer.

But after speaking directly with ex-Black Cats boss Moyes, the Danish defender opted to make the move to Wearside to link up with head coach Lee Johnson.

Alves had been training with West Ham’s first team for the six months proceeding his summer move, with the loan to Sunderland an attempt to gain minutes before returning to fight for his place in London.

The 21-year-old centre-back made his debut for Sunderland against Blackpool in the Carabao Cup last month and started in the next round against Wigan Athletic.

The Denmark U21 international also came on as a second-half substitute as Johnson’s men defeated Cheltenham Town by five on Tuesday night.

Alves, though, is keen to learn in League One and spoke to Danish outlet bold.dk. about the move to the Stadium of Light.

“Moyes and I agreed that Sunderland was a better place for me.

“For every home game, there are about 30,000 spectators and I’m on a team that is not tight.

“We would like to be at the top of the league, and that would give me the opportunity for playing time and to get a positive start towards next season.

“The biggest reason is that I have to have some playing time and with the playing time the goal is that I have to have important experience and get to know English football.”

Former Black Cats striker Connor Wickham has undergone surgery just weeks signing a deal with Preston North End.

The striker has undergone surgery to repair a damaged hamstring.

The former Crystal Palace and Sheffield Wednesday man was injured few minutes into his full debut against Cheltenham in the Carabao Cup.

Wickham had made one substitute appearance in the Championship for North End before the injury.

He was caught from behind by a challenge when his leg was fully stretched, causing damage to the higher part of the hamstring in his right leg.

After seeing a specialist, Whickham has undergone surgery on the injury and posted a message on Instagram.

He said: “To say I’m gutted is an understatement but I’m grateful to have been in the hands of the best, the surgery was a success and I’m already on the road back.

“I know I’ll give everything I get back on the pitch as soon as possible. Thank you to everyone who’s reached out in the past few days. Much love CW21.”

Wickham signed a four-month contract at North End earlier this month, having trained with them as a trialist in a bid to earn a deal.

He enjoyed a four campaign stint at the Stadium of Light – with loans at Leeds United and Sheffield Wednesday in between – following an £8m move from Ipswich Town back in 2011.

The fee broke Ipswich’s record for transfer fees recouped, and broke the transfer record for an EFL player moving to a Premier League club at the time.

Hear from Sunderland Echo writers Phil Smith and Joe Nicholson in the first of our podcasts recorded earlier this week.

Our second podcast features Black Cats supporters Dave Lawrence and Michael Bowers!

They’re both perfect listening ahead of the trip to Portsmouth!

Tickets for Sunderland’s upcoming trip to Gillingham will go on sale from 10am on Friday 1 October to Season Card holders with 45+ BCP.

Lee Johnson’s side travel to Kent on Saturday 16 October at 3pm in what is their next league away game following Saturday’s trip to Fratton Park.