SUNDERLAND are unlikely to have any new players in before tomorrow’s visit of fellow strugglers Hull City, leaving manager Chris Coleman frustrated and focused on delivering points with what he has.

The Black Cats have endured a difficult week on the transfer front after learning Liverpool have decided not to release Ben Woodburn on loan and Burnley striker Jon Walters needed knee surgery.

Sunderland are in the market for Derby County front-man Chris Martin and there were hopes on Wearside a deal could be done before tomorrow’s game. It has since emerged Leeds, Norwich and Reading want him too.

Without naming names, though, Coleman hinted he was not expecting any new arrivals before the weekend.

Coleman said: “We have been frustrated, I would be more frustrated if I thought we were not working hard enough to bring players in but we have been working incredibly hard.

“The thing is things have been agreed, but clubs we are getting players from have been doing their own business. It has fallen down with teams need to get players in before they go out.

“We are inexperienced in certain areas going into this game, but it hasn’t come quick enough for this weekend. But I would be more frustrated if we hadn’t been proactive, but we have. We have just ran out of time for the game.”

He added: “It’s black and white. It’s a ticking clock. Every day that passes we haven’t got them in there is more pressure, stress. We can’t do nothing more, we can’t kidnap these players. It is what it is.

“We have to keep banging on the door, simple as that. I think there will be fresh faces, but it is a ticking clock, January is a horrible month for teams like us, even for the teams at the top it can be. January is not a good month but we can turn it into a good month if we can get faces in.”

Sunderland are rooted to the foot of the Championship after last week’s 4-0 drubbing at Cardiff City, when Didier Ndong was sent off and will start a three-match ban. There are also no players due to return to action, even though Jonny Williams has restarted training again.

Lamine Kone has trained this week, but Coleman said: “Lamine has trained. He has had no game time. Playing and training are two different things. Catts had not had game time until last week, bit early really for him. I think this is a bit early for Lamine.”

Jack Rodwell remains on Sunderland’s pay-roll despite the club accepting his request to move on, although there has been no progress on that front because he feels he is due a pay-off.

Coleman said: “Jack doesn’t want to play for Sunderland, he has told me that and us that. If Jack wants to go somewhere else and plays every game then I am happy for Jack. He is 26 and the proof is in the pudding, we will have to wait and see.

“He has told me he wants to be somewhere else. That doesn’t help me, tomorrow. We concentrate on the players we have got and make sure they have a crack at it.

“The Jack Rodwells who don’t want to be here can’t help our situation, the boys who do want to be here can help us.”