LAMINE Kone is due back on Wearside but Sunderland are braced for six days of uncertainty surrounding the key defender’s future.

The £20m centre-back’s Africa Cup of Nations adventure has already come to an end with the pre-tournament favourites Ivory Coast failing to emerge from the group stage.

Kone didn’t even play a single minute of football in Gabon, mainly because he headed off on international duty nursing an injury from when he collided with an advertising hoarding at Burnley on New Year’s Eve.

The 27-year-old was unable to force his way ahead of Eric Bailly and Simon Deli for any of the Ivory Coast’s three matches, and now he will return to the North-East and head straight into a talks over his future.

Everton remain the leading contenders to sign Kone because of Sunderland’s interest in James McCarthy, although the midfielder is believed to be reluctant to move into a relegation battle despite a lack of alternative options.

Sunderland boss David Moyes is not keen to offload his players given how depleted his squad is, although Kone’s £20m valuation could boost his own recruitment push – even if attracting players to a club sitting in the bottom three could be tough.

Sam Allardyce, who brought him to English football for £5m 12 months ago, is also keen on taking Kone down to Crystal Palace, while Southampton’s interest has never gone anywhere.

The Saints are looking to add another centre-back to their squad after selling Jose Fonte to West Ham for £8m earlier this month. The Hammers had also been keen on Kone, but opted for the cheaper alternative.

Southampton have had discussions with Liverpool for Mamadou Sakho, another £20m rated player, and have walked away from a deal at this stage. They are, though, expected to make fresh moves for one or the other before Tuesday’s transfer deadline.

Moyes signed free agent Joleon Lescott on Tuesday on a short term deal until the end of the season. He will at least provide another option at the heart of the defence but will have to prove his fitness after not playing since the start of October.

Sunderland are also looking at Swansea's left-back Neil Taylor as a possible replacement for Patrick van Aanholt. Taylor would only cost around £3m and would fill the void left by van Aanholt who is heading to Palace for £12m.

Sunderland hope that Papy Djilobodi will avoid a four-match ban after denying a charge of violent conduct dished out by the Football Association.

The Sunderland defender had until 6pm on Tuesday night to respond and he has disputed it. He will now go before a disciplinary panel at some stage next week.

Djilobodji was caught on video appearing to shove Darren Fletcher in the face as they jostled for position in the closing stages of Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at West Bromwich Albion.

Referee Craig Pawson didn’t include the incident in his report but the FA are looking to retrospectively punish the Senegalese centre-back after reviewing replays.

If found guilty he will be missing for four matches, as it is his second red card of the campaign, and Sunderland are already short of options.

Lescott could figure on Tuesday if he proves his fitness, while it remains to be seen if Kone will be available for Tuesday’s visit of Tottenham.

Moyes, whose squad is already rocked by a number of long term problems, has already been rocked this week by the news that key forward Victor Anichebe is to miss the next ten weeks with a knee ligament injury.

The latest round of Premier League fixtures to be screened by Sky Sports have been selected.

It means Sunderland’s home date with Manchester City has been rescheduled for 4pm on Sunday, March 5.