Jack Ross has spoken recently of how his younger players should have had loan spells earlier, showing a willingness to get players out who aren't getting a lot of football.

That won't necessarily be the younger players either. Despite a strong period of restructuring, Ross will have senior footballers who might need some minutes in their legs.

With the right recall clauses, it can be an effective way of ensuring fringe players remain match fit and as sharp as possible.

His Sunderland side is far more streamlined and hungry than that of last season, but that won't stop him striving for more, even if it involves players leaving on a temporary basis.

Here are two Sunderland players we believe will be leaving on loan this January.

Nelson is just coming back to fitness and is eager to find himself a spot in the Sunderland side. With the likes of Maja doing well, Wyke hoping to bounce back and Watmore due to return as well, Nelson might need a loan spell away.

It wouldn't be the first time, he was at Falkirk last season and a return to Scotland seems likely, given Ross' connections.

O'Nien hasn't been a roaring success at the Stadium of Light. The former Wycombe man moved to the north east in the summer, but hasn't made a impact in their side.

He might be primed for a loan move away to get some regular football having featured fleetingly this season. It might be he's farmed out with a view to a permanent move in the summer.