Sunderland are considering offering a short-term deal to current first team coach Andrew Taylor in a bid to help the Black Cats have enough defensive cover for the rest of the campaign, according to the Northern Echo.

The Black Cats are in need of adding some extra options in defence, following Phil Parkinson confirming that Bailey Wright could be out of action for around eight to 12 weeks with an ankle injury, which could potentially see him miss the rest of the campaign.

That injury could leave Sunderland a little light in options in terms of defensive cover, which could mean that Parkinson decides to assess his options and see whether he could potentially bring in another defender to provide cover for the rest of the season.

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However, it is now thought that another potential option that Sunderland are considering is whether to offer Taylor a short-term contract until the end of the season, which would see the former Bolton Wanderers defender compete for a place in the side and provide cover in case of further injury issues.

The verdict

This could be a sensible move for Sunderland to make under the circumstances, with the Black Cats searching for a potential free transfer to bring in to boost their defensive numbers, but it is never easy to find a player who is without a club to come in and perform at this stage of a season.

Therefore, offering a short-term deal to Taylor could be a very useful alternative, and the experienced defender would be able to offer a potentially reliable option to come into the side when needed, and Parkinson is fully aware of his abilities having managed him at Bolton.

Taylor also crucially knows exactly what Parkinson is demanding from his players this season, having been a key part of coaching staff this term, which means that he would not be needing time to settle in and get to know the system and the players he is playing alongside.

That continuity is vital when you are challenging for promotion, and Sunderland will be wanting to rely on players who they know can deliver performances between now and the end of the season, which makes a short-term deal for Taylor a very good option for Parkinson to have.