Issues Sunderland new boss, Michael Beale needs to address regarding the progress of Sunderland’s squad

Return of injured players
This season has seen a number of Sunderland players go down with injuries.

We have yet to see Pembele wear the red and white shirt, but with a substantial initial expenditure to secure his services permanently, we would expect him to compete for a starting berth in our team right away.

The return of Alese to training will be a boost for our squad, and his presence will ultimately help us grow defensively. Because he can play both full-back and center-back, he will be a threat in either position once completely healthy.

Matete is another player who is nearing full fitness. I was hopeful he’d push through this season, and he was extremely unlucky to get hurt when he did.

Ironically, if he had kept fit, I believe he would have had a free run to gain games for us given how thin our midfield is, and he could have been a valuable addition to our roster. If we are unable to strengthen in midfield in January, he may be able to push for a role once he is fully fit.

So much so that I believe both will begin to contribute to the club in due course, and when a new head coach takes over, this may also improve their chances of becoming productive strikers for our side with fresh methods implemented.

In and outgoings in January
The comings and goings of January will provide many answers for how the squad will shape out for the second half of the season. We could see major bids for Clarke and Ballard from Premier League clubs, while Pritchard, who was expected to depart in the summer, could be shown the door despite his excellent form for us recently.

There have recently been speculations that Premier League clubs are also fans of Pierre Ekwah. The veracity of these rumors remains questionable, but we may see some approaches for players like Ekwah during the January window, which will put our club’s commitment to the test.

Loans for players like Bennette and Hemir could be in the works in order for them to obtain valuable experience in English football. There is a chance that the loan will be terminated in order to make room in the squad for other positions that may require strengthening.

January will be an interesting month, and I don’t expect the club to let many people go, but if rival clubs make crazy offers, it might be worth our while to separate ways and reinvest the money.

Can our youth rise to the occasion?
Our youth system recently shown its promise in the FA Youth Cup by fielding four teenagers who will have the opportunity to develop at the club over the next few years. Rigg is the obvious name who could strive for some competitive first-team appearances. His talent is clear, and based on what we’ve seen, he can contribute to our group.

He would have received promises from the club that he would be given game time as the season progressed in order for him to stay with the club long-term, and my opinion is that we will see more of Rigg in the coming months.

Tom Watson, has been flourishing in recent games for the youth squad and potential outings in the new year for the first team would not be a surprise. It was said that his performances were compared to Clarke’s, which is a good sign.

There have already been reports, which are questionable in their veracity, that Brighton have set their sights on gaining his services. He appears to have a promising future, and we can only hope he remains and begins his professional football career with us.

Young and Ogunsuyi have budding reputations, and while first-team appearances for both may be confined to cup games or sub appearances, given our emphasis on youth, it would not be surprising to see both names more frequently in and around training and matchday squads. If any of these teenagers show signs of rapid progress, the club’s stance on incomings may change.

Our team is strong in its current state and across all levels. Change is on the way. A new head coach, transfers, players returning from injury, and youth prospects will all play a role in this transition, but for the first time, it’s reassuring to consider such matters knowing that the players we’ve invested in actually want to be here and are willing to fight. But brace up, for the changes that await the squad will take us on a wild ride over the following few months.