Sunderland

Adam Lanigan
BBC Sport England

Image source, Getty Images

Put simply, Aaron Connolly's time at Sunderland never really got going.

He arrived late after a difficult summer dealing with personal issues which he bravely spoke about shortly after moving to Wearside.

But by that time, Frenchman Wilson Isidor was finding his stride as the Black Cats' main man up front in boss Regis Le Bris' favoured 4-3-3 formation.

Connolly needed a run of games to find his rhythm, but that never came.

He scored his only goal in the 1-1 draw at Millwall in one of only two starts, but he did not even come off the bench in Sunderland's next game. That was proof of where he sat in the pecking order.

The move to The Den is probably best for all parties because, as Connolly showed last season at Hull, there is a very talented Championship player waiting to come out.

Burnley welcome fourth placed Sunderland for a shot at the top on Friday evening (20:00 GMT).

The Clarets are just one point shy of league leaders Leeds United, while the Black Cats will go above their hosts if they take all three points at Turf Moor.

The match could see a debut for Roma loanee Enzo Le Fee, with Sunderland bolstering their squad as they compete for an automatic promotion place - and avoid shock defeats such as exiting the FA Cup at the hands of a struggling Stoke City.

Meanwhile, it took extra time for Burnley to get past Reading in their cup victory at the weekend, but the win did mean they went a 14th successive game unbeaten across all competitions.

• Burnley have won just three of their past 23 league games against Sunderland (D9 L11), failing to score in five of their past seven matches.

• Sunderland have failed to win any of their past five away league games against Burnley (D3 L2), since a 2-0 win at Turf Moor in March 2005.

• Burnley have kept 17 clean sheets in just 26 league games this season and currently have the best goals-conceded per game rate by a team in a single season in English Football League history (0.35 – 9 in total).

• Sunderland have won just one of their past seven away league games (D4 L2), failing to score in four of those outings.

• In games between the current top four teams in the Championship this season (Leeds, Burnley, Sheffield United, Sunderland), Burnley (2.0 – W2 L1) and Sunderland (1.8 – W2 D1 L1) have the best points-per-game rates.

Sheffield United have offered £7m for Leicester's Republic of Ireland striker Tom Cannon, 22, who has been recalled from his loan at Stoke. (Football Insider, external)

Sunderland have also made a bid to sign Cannon, with an eye to purchase the Republic of Ireland international if they are promoted this season. (Sunderland Echo, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Wednesday's gossip here.

Millwall are interested in signing forward Aaron Connolly from Sunderland. The 24-year-old only signed for the Black Cats in September but has struggled to make an impact and could be available. (Sunderland Echo), external

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Tuesday's gossip here.

Sunderland and Blackburn Rovers have joined the race to sign Southampton forward Ben Brereton Diaz, with the Chile international struggling for game time on the south coast. (The Star, external)

However, the 25-year-old prefers either a loan move to Sheffield United or to see out the rest of the season with the Saints. (Daily Mail, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Monday's gossip here.

Borussia Dortmund have cooled their interest in a January move for Jobe Bellingham leading to Sunderland being hopeful they can hold onto the midfielder until the summer. (Sunderland Echo, external)

The Black Cats could bring in Ben Brereton-Diaz from Southampton to aid their promotion push, leading the race for the striker's signing ahead of his former clubs Sheffield United and Blackburn. (Sheffield Star, external)

Stoke could lose loan striker Tom Cannon this week, if Leicester decide to recall him and send him elsewhere, with Sunderland, Luton, Sheffield United and Wednesday all monitoring the 22-year-old Irish forward. (Leicester Mercury, external)

Want more EFL transfer stories? Read Sunday's full gossip column.

Image source, Rex Features

Several Championship clubs will be playing close attention to comments from Aston Villa boss Unai Emery about attacking midfielder Louie Barry.

The 21-year-old has been recalled by Villa this week after a stellar loan spell with League One Stockport, where he scored 16 goals this season.

Leeds, Sunderland, Sheffield United, Sheffield Wednesday, Derby, Middlesbrough, Millwall and Coventry are among the clubs reported to be keen on taking Barry for a stint in the second tier for the remainder of the campaign.

Speaking ahead of Villa's FA Cup third round clash with West Ham, Emery said: "(Barry) trained with us and we are going to make a plan with him, an overall plan,

"I think he is a very good player who is progressing well. He has been on loan doing fantastic. Now we can have a new plan with him.

"He improved because he was scoring a lot of goals on loan. With us he only trained today and yesterday. Of course we are going to try and get a good plan for the club with him."

Image source, Getty Images

This is the first FA Cup meeting between Sunderland and Stoke since February 1976, the Black Cats winning a fifth round replay 2-1 at Roker Park.

Sunderland have won their past two home games against Stoke, including a 2-1 Championship victory last month.

They last won three consecutive home games against the Potters in all competitions in September 1986.

Jobe Bellingham is expected to stay at Sunderland this month, despite transfer interest across the Premier League and Europe, but will likely leave in the summer. (The Sun, external)

Want more EFL transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column.

Image source, Getty Images

Sunderland midfielder Chris Rigg is expected to be available for Saturday's FA Cup third-round tie against Stoke City after recovering from an ankle injury.

The 17-year-old left Ewood Park in a protective boot on Boxing Day after picking up an injury in the second half of their game against Blackburn.

Also fit is Lens loanee Salis Abdul Samed, who could make his first appearance, while 20-year-old forward Ahmed Abdullahi could also feature after signing for the Wearside club in August.

The Black Cats will also soon been bolstered by the return of defender Dan Ballard - who boss Regis Le Bris estimates is around one week away from a return - but wingers Romaine Mundle and Tommy Watson are still anticipated to be out for a further three to four weeks.

Image source, Getty Images

Winger Patrick Roberts says Sunderland skipper Dan Neil has grown into a real leader.

South Shields-born midfielder Neil is approaching 200 appearances for the club, despite only turning 23 last month.

He has played every minute of 24 Championship games this season, was sent off five minutes from time in another and only missed the next through suspension, back in August.

Roberts told BBC Radio Newcastle: "When I first came in you knew he was a top player (even though) he was very young.

"He's grown into a real leader, on and off the pitch. He's a real character, he's from here and his whole family come and watch him and you can see he's proud every time he pulls on that armband.

"I've always been a big fan of Dan and he's shown what he can do, he's a brilliant footballer and a good lad as well."

Whether Roberts and Neil line up together against Stoke in the FA Cup third round on Saturday (15:00 GMT) remains to be seen, with many clubs expected to rotate their squad after a hectic festive programme which ended with the Black Cats fourth in the Championship, three points off top spot.

He said: "You have to look at the season as a whole, especially the position we're in. Maybe other lads who haven't played so much get a chance to play and show what they can do.

"We have got a big few weeks and months coming up towards the end of the season and you need a full squad so if players get a chance, let them show what they can do."

You can listen to the full interview with Roberts on BBC Radio Newcastle's Total Sport from 18:00 GMT on Wednesday.

Image source, Rex Features

Homegrown keeper Matty Young has his sights set on winning the Sunderland number one shirt in the future.

The 18-year-old is currently on a season-long loan at high-flying League Two side Salford City where he has started the past nine matches in all competitions, keeping eight clean sheets.

Young could line up against Manchester City in the FA Cup third round on Saturday (17:45 GMT live on BBC One) and has reportedly already caught the eye of City boss Pep Guardiola.

Young joined Sunderland as a seven-year-old and signed a contract until 2028 in November.

He told the Black Cats website, external he has his sights on playing for his club which "means the world" to him.

"I have been with the club for over a decade. I have supported Sunderland my whole life. The place means the world to me, as a player and as a supporter," he said.

"I want to play for this club in the future, that is the goal for me. I am working my way up to hopefully get my opportunity.

"I am really pleased with the progress I am making so far."

Image source, Rex Features

Two Championship fixtures have been selected for free-to-air TV coverage in the coming weeks.

The all-Yorkshire game between Leeds United and Sheffield Wednesday at Elland Road on Sunday, 19 January (12:00 GMT) will be broadcast live on ITV1 and ITVX.

The Tees-Wear derby between Middlesbrough and Sunderland on Monday, 3 February (20:00 GMT) will also be screened live on ITV4 and ITVX.

It is part of an agreement between Sky Sports, ITV and the EFL , externalto give fans the chance to watch coverage of selected EFL and EFL Cup fixtures on free-to-air channels.

There are five straight days of free-to-air coverage of the FA Cup third round, from this Thursday, across the BBC and ITV.

The second leg of the EFL Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Tottenham at Anfield on Thursday, 6 February (20:00 GMT) will also be broadcast live on ITV1 and ITVX.

You can find all this week's fixtures here.

Sunderland remain in talks about a move for Roma's French midfielder Enzo Le Fee, who previously played under Regis Le Bris at Lorient. (The Northern Echo, external)

Want more EFL transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column.