Sunderland have not ruled out the possibility of Ellis Simms returning to Wearside later this month - with sporting director Kristjaan Speakman saying the club is 'open to' a reunion with the Everton frontman. Simms spent the first half of the season on loan with the Black Cats, scoring seven goals in 17 outings despite missing several games in September and October due to a toe injury.
But, with Frank Lampard's Everton struggling near the foot of the Premier League, his parent club activated their recall option to bring him back to Goodison Park last weekend. Since then, Simms came on as a substitute in Everton's 4-1 home defeat against Brighton on Tuesday which means that, under rules that state no player can play for more than two clubs in one season, he cannot now play for any side other than Everton or Sunderland this season.
For now, Simms will remain at Goodison but if Everton bring in more firepower this month and Simms is shunted down the pecking order, they may consider allowing him to come back to Sunderland later in the month for the remainder of the campaign. "I think when you've got loan players in your squad you have to those contingency plans in case something like this occurs," Speakman told the club's official website.
