SUNDERLAND, who have set up a date with Queens Park Rangers in the third round of the EFL Cup, are on the verge of signing former Liverpool full-back Javier Manquillo.

The 22-year-old spent the day at the club’s Academy of Light ahead of his season-long loan from Atletico Madrid before watching the 1-0 victory over Shrewsbury Town.

Manquillo was driven back to the training base to complete his medical and is expected to be confirmed as Sunderland’s latest signing in time for him to be involved against Southampton on Saturday.

The former Spanish Under-21 international, who earned seven caps at that level, spent the 2014-15 campaign with Liverpool but Brendan Rodgers sent him back early rather than keep him for a second campaign. He spent last season on loan at Marseille.

The Black Cats are also looking to follow that signing up with more, although interest in Sevilla’s £7m midfielder Vicente Iborra has been denied.

Sunderland remain in the market for taking Rubin Kazan’s Yann M’Vila back to the club, while Barnsley’s Alfie Mawson is also on the radar.

David Moyes, the Sunderland manager, does not want the recruitment drive to stop and his assistant Paul Bracewell confirmed the progress after he was given media duties following the EFL Cup victory.

Bracewell said: “There are a busy few days ahead. The lad [Manquillo] is obviously having his medical at the moment.

"He came in this afternoon and he's having his medical as we speak. Hopefully, there will be a few more signings.”

Sunderland will travel to QPR in the week of September 19 in the EFL Cup after Adnan Januzaj’s first goal since his season long loan move from Manchester United defeated the Shrews.

The Belgian struck a brilliant winner six minutes before the end when it looked like the game would head into extra-time, after a dour night when it was highlighted once more how much Moyes needs more players.

Bracewell said: “That's one of the reasons why the boss brought him in. All of a sudden, he can turn, and it was a great finish to get a result on a tough night.

“It's a work in progress. Some things we were happy with and some things we weren't. He's got that ability to deliver something very special like that.”

As well as Januzaj’s stunning winner, there was also the highlight for Sunderland of seeing teenager Joel Asoro make his first start after his appearance as a substitute against Middlesbrough on Sunday.

The 17-year-old scored seven goals in 14 appearances for the Under-18s last season after arriving from Olof Mellberg’s Brommapojkarna in Sweden.

Asoro – aged 17 and 119 days - was unable to become the youngest Sunderland scorer since Jimmy Hamilton in 1971, but he still impressed the coaching staff.

The youngster will make way for Jermain Defoe, who was rested against Shrewsbury, at Southampton, where Sunderland will be looking for some good news on the injury front.

Bracewell said: “Vito Mannone was taken to hospital – he had an accident in training – and the X-ray was fine. But he's gone again this afternoon for a scan. We'll probably get the results of that first thing.

“He wants the specialist to have a look at it, so when we get the results of that scan, we'll have a better idea in terms of how long he is going to be out.

“In terms of the bone, they said it wasn't a fracture, but there's still a lot of swelling there, so the scan will probably give us a good indication in terms of if there is any ligament damage.

“John O'Shea was the same in terms of a scan. He will be reassessed in the morning just to see if it has settled down.”

Jeremain Lens is another who Moyes is keeping an eye on. He picked up a kick on the foot in training and they are hoping he will have recovered to face Southampton despite interest from Fenerbahce.