Hibernian boss Jack Ross has provided an update on their pursuit of Reading's Marc McNulty, saying it's 'out of his hands'.
McNulty, 27, is on-loan at Sunderland from Reading for the season.
He was brought to the Stadium of Light by Ross in the summer but since Phil Parkinson's appointment at the club, McNulty's game-time has taken a severe hit - he's started just one of the last 11 for the Black Cats.
Now it looks like Ross is keen on bringing him back to Scotland with a former club of his in Hibs, where McNulty spent part of last season on-loan, playing 15 games in the Scottish Premiership and scoring seven.
It's expected that Reading will allow McNulty to leave Sunderland and seek a new loan-deal in the second-half of the season, and speaking to The Scotsman (via Berkshire Live), Ross said on the situation:
“I signed Marc for Sunderland. It’s not like I can say it’s a lazy link because he is a good player but he is with another club, albeit he has a parent club and they have control of his destiny at the moment.
“As far as I am aware at the moment he is part of their plans. It’s not a priority area for us at present but should he become available it might change things."
Reading manager Mark Bowen is yet to break his silence on McNulty's future, but it seemingly doesn't lie in Berkshire. He signed from Coventry City in 2018 after a prolific season in League One which saw him score 25 goals in the league.
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But after enduring a tough first-half of the season, McNulty was soon loaned-out to Hibs, before securing a season-long loan to Sunderland this time round - in 15 League One appearances for Parkinson's side, McNulty has scored just twice.
The verdict
There's still time for Hibs, Reading and Sunderland to make the move happen, but it needs to happen soon. The end of the month will quickly creep up on clubs in the EFL and McNulty could find himself wasting the second-half of his season at Sunderland.
He's still got a good few years left in him and after proving at hit at Hibs last season, Ross may well hand him a much-needed lifeline back up in Scotland before the transfer window slams shut.