Sunderland manager Jack Ross says that he is hopeful young stars Josh Maja and Lynden Gooch will sign new deals ahead of the January transfer window. 

The pair's current deals both expire in the summer and the club have made no secret of their eagerness to keep the pair at the club for the foreseeable future.

"Hoping is probably a good word to describe it," Ross told his pre-match press conference.

"I believe both players want to stay at the club, they understand this is a great club to be at.

"There are always external factors but I would be hopeful they would both remain at the club."

Maja has been the club's main source of goals so far this campaign with the 19-year-old bagging 12 already, whilst attacking midfielder Gooch has been a worthy provider, laying on eight assists as well as scoring five himself.

Sunderland currently sit in third place in League One with 20 matches played but just one point behind Luton Town who currently occupy the final automatic promotion spot.

Ross's side are also unbeaten in their last 12 league games, putting them in a very strong position to push for promotion through the second half of the season.

The verdict 

This is the one element currently casting a shadow over what has been a brilliant campaign of change for Sunderland.

If they were to lose Maja or Gooch or both in January, however, there is a real chance a sense of doom and gloom could creep back into the club.

That is the last thing they need, so these contracts must be sorted as soon as possible.