When the transfer deadline passed at 11pm on Tuesday night, much of the optimism Sunderland had built up over the January window seemed to drain away with it.
The chime of the clock only confirmed what had become increasingly clear throughout deadline day as the club’s search for a new striker fell flat. Even the rumour mill, usually flush with new and often wildly optimistic names, was quiet.
It all means that Joe Gelhardt will be the Black Cats’ only out-and-out striker until the end of the season, and if they’re to continue the unlikely dream of back-to-back promotions, plenty rests on the 20-year-old’s shoulders. The same can’t be said of a potential cup run; Gelhardt is cup tied and can only appear for Sunderland in league matches, which only adds to their woes.
