Sunderland have had the 'pedal to the metal from Day One' on the transfer front according to Alex Neil - meaning there is no room to speed things up in the wake of recent injury problems. Neil sounded more optimistic when discussing transfers today than he had earlier in the week, saying he is confident that reinforcements will arrive 'sooner rather than later' and that a few deals will be completed 'shortly' and before the last-minute scramble in the run-up to the deadline.
The need to strengthen the squad following promotion to the Championship has been clear since the summer and seven new faces have arrived already, albeit two of those were at the club last season on loan. But over the last week or so injuries have begun to have an effect, with summer addition Dan Ballard expected to be out for a couple of months with a fractured foot, while Carl Winchester is struggling with a back problem, and key midfielder Corry Evans missed the midweek defeat at Sheffield United although he may return at Stoke City tomorrow.
Neil insists the injuries have not changed the fundamentals of the situation, and says Sunderland were already working as quickly as possible to bring in the new recruits he needs. "The situation hasn't changed," he said.
