Sunderland's Carl Winchester has made a deadline day loan move to League One Shrewsbury Town. The 29-year-old is due to spend the rest of the season at the New Meadow, although the Black Cats have the option to recall him in January if needed.
The versatile defender was a mainstay of the Black Cats' promotion-winning side last term but has barely had a look-in this term. He has not even made the bench in the Championship, with his only outing coming in the Carbao Cup first round defeat at Sheffield Wednesday last month, although previous boss Alex Neil said that Winchester had been struggling with a back injury.
Sunderland sporting director Kristjaan Speakman said: "Carl is at a stage of his career whereby he wants to be playing regular football and after concluding our incoming business, we agreed that it suited both parties for him to spend the remainder of the season on loan. He played an important part in our promotion last season and he will be missed by players and staff alike.
"We know Carl is a popular player amongst our fanbase and like us, I'm sure our supporters appreciate the contribution he has made to the Club throughout his time at the Stadium of Light."
The Northern Ireland international joined Sunderland from Forest Green Rovers in January 2021, and has made 67 appearances in all competitions for the club, scoring four goals. Unless Winchester is recalled in January, his loan deal will mean he sees out the remainder of his Sunderland contract with the Shrews.
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But, given that he was not getting gametime, the arrival this week of midfielders Edouard Michut on loan from Paris St Germain, and Abdoullah Ba on a permanent deal from Le Havre, will have only further reduced his chances of forcing his way into the side.
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