Alex Neil admits decisions on the futures of some of Sunderland's youngsters will have to be put on ice until he knows which players are due to arrive on Wearside. The Black Cats still need to recruit several players to plug gaps in the squad, and Neil said this week that the club is working to bring in 'one or two' additions before Sunday's Championship opener at home to Coventry City.
But the uncertainty over which players will come in, and when, has a knock-on effect when it comes to deciding whether to keep homegrown players at the Academy of Light or allow them to leave on loan. At present, Ross Stewart is Sunderland's only specialist centre-forward and that has meant that at times during pre-season - including in last night's friendly at Hartlepool United - Neil has deployed Jack Diamond up front.
And until Sunderland have brought in cover and competition for Stewart, Neil cannot commit to either keeping Diamond within his squad or loaning him out again, as was the case last term when he spent virtually the entire campaign at League Two Harrogate Town. Asked what Diamond's future might hold, Neil said: "It's difficult to say, because it really depends on if we manage to get players in the building, doesn't it?
