JACK ROSS can see a Sunderland future for Bryan Oviedo and Lee Cattermole beyond the end of the month, but has ruled out a recall for want-away duo Papy Djilobodji and Didier Ndong no matter what happens ahead of the international transfer deadline.

Cattermole has been the subject of discussions with Bordeaux, but the Ligue 1 club, managed by former Sunderland boss Gustavo Poyet, are yet to agree a deal for the midfielder, who has been pencilled in for a starting spot in tomorrow’s Carabao Cup first-round game with Sheffield Wednesday.

Oviedo, who was also expected to leave in the wake of Sunderland’s relegation to League One, has featured in the opening two games of the season, and with no bids on the table for the Costa Rica international, Ross is happy to regard him as a key part of the squad.

Djilobodji and Ndong are in a very different situation, having failed to report for training at any stage this summer. The pair are attempting to engineer a move away from Wearside, with Hannover 96 interested in Djilobodji and number of French clubs eyeing Ndong, but Ross will not be offering an olive branch if talks collapse ahead of the August 31 deadline.

“I keep saying that I’ve been taking players as I’ve found them,” said the Sunderland boss. “As a manager, I’ve not been under any duress from the owner in terms of players having to leave.

“Because Djilobodji and Ndong haven’t trained, and Lamine (Kone) made it very clear that he didn’t want to play here, they were fairly clear-cut decisions. Bryan and Lee will get a lot of attention because they fall into that bracket of players that might have been expected to leave as well, but the two of them have conducted themselves in an absolutely proper manner.

“I have no qualms at all over them. Until that dynamic changes, and I very much doubt their behaviour will change, or until the ownership look at it differently, they are no different to any other player.

“I’ve always separated myself from everything else and just looked at them purely as footballers. It’s a question of how they train and what they bring to the team on a weekly basis. That’s why they’ve been included in the starting line-up or from the bench. They have characteristics and qualities that enhance the group - not just on the pitch, but off the pitch as well.”

Ross has overseen a summer of radical change, but the former St Mirren boss is still hoping to make a final attacking acquisition before the window for Football League loan signings closes at the end of the month.

He missed out on one of his leading targets at the start of the week when Manchester United youngster James Wilson opted to join Aberdeen, and admits his honesty could be counting against him as he looks to negotiate with potential loanees.

While Sunderland are extremely short of attacking options at the moment, with Josh Maja their only available centre-forward, they should have Charlie Wyke and Jerome Sinclair back in the squad by the end of the month. Once all three are vying for a starting spot, a new loan signing could find it difficult to get much of a look-in.

“It might be that I’m being too honest,” said Ross. “But I’m trying to be transparent in the discussions I’ve had with other clubs. I think it’s wrong to bring somebody in under false pretences.

“That’s not to say we wouldn’t bring somebody in who would go on to play every single week, but when Charlie and Jerome are fit, and with the form Josh is in, we’d have four strikers challenging for one or two positions, depending on how we play.

“I think it’s important to be clear. Some clubs and players are comfortable with that, but others aren’t. I’ve had experiences of that myself as a manager. I would never put that caveat on a loan player if I was loaning them out, but sometimes it happens when you’re loaning a player in. That can sometimes restrict who you’re able to sign.”

Ross is unlikely to risk Maja on Thursday, with Luke Molyneux set to lead the line despite having spent most of his career to date playing in a wide position.

Adam Matthews is unavailable after picking up a knock in the weekend draw at Luton – the full-back should be available for Sunday’s league game with Scunthorpe- and Glenn Loovens is set to be rested to prevent him having to play three games in a week.

Reece James is expected to start after playing for 45 minutes of Monday night’s Under-23s game with Stoke City, with Elliott Embleton also set for a starting berth after he was shortlisted for UEFA’s Goal of the Season award yesterday.

Dylan McGeouch will not be involved on Thursday, but the summer signing from Hibernian could make his return from injury at the weekend.

“I’m hoping he’ll be fit for Sunday, but Thursday is too early for him,” said Ross. “He’s had this ongoing niggle, and we need to make sure he’s absolutely right because he had a problem a few years ago.

“We don’t want it to develop into anything more serious, so it’s vital we get it absolutely right, but he’s desperate to be involved because he’s been involved in most of pre-season. If he’s absolutely right, he’ll go on and remain fit. We’re very keen to get him involved because of the influence he’ll have on the pitch.”