The Black Cats were hopeful they could strengthen their forward options, with top scorer Ross Stewart set to miss the rest of the season with an achilles injury, yet a move didn’t materialise.
While Sunderland were able to make four new additions in January, including Pierre Ekwah, Joe Gelhardt, Isaac Lihadji and Joe Anderson, they also lost Ellis Simms at the start of the month when the frontman was recalled by Everton.
Tony Mowbray’s side are also likely to be without captain Corry Evans for the rest of the season due to an ACL issue, while Elliot Embleton is recovering from a long-term setback.
Excluding the aforementioned injured players, here’s what Sunderland’s starting XI and bench could look like for the remainder of the campaign:
9. CAM: Alex Pritchard
Another player who has missed parts of the season with injuries but made a significant impact in the final few weeks of the 2022/23 campaign. Photo: Frank Reid
10. LW: Jack Clarke
Clarke, 22, started 46 of Sunderland’s 48 league games (including play-offs) during the 2022/23 season, scoring nine goals and providing 12 assists. Photo: Martin Swinney
11. ST Ross Stewart
Sunderland hope their star striker, 26, will be back for pre-season after being sidelined since January with an achilles injury. Photo: Frank Reid
12. SUB: Alex Bass
The 25-year-old has made just two senior appearances, both in cup competitions, for Sunderland since joining the club from Portsmouth last summer. Photo: Martin Swinney