Sunderland will consider allowing fit-again Arbenit Xhemajli out on loan this month - provided it does not leave them short of defensive cover.
Xhemajli spent a year on the sidelines after suffering a serious knee ligament injury in October 2020, but has been gradually eased back into action with the club's U23 side before progressing to a first-team game in the EFL Trophy last month, and then this month he has been an unused sub in the league.
Boss Lee Johnson knows Xhemajli needs to play regular first-team games to get fully up-to-speed and a loan would allow him to do that, but he is also conscious that Sunderland must not leave themselves light on numbers in defence while the versatile Luke O'Nien is still working his way back towards fitness, and having allowed youngster Ollie Younger to join Doncaster Rovers this week.
