GUS Poyet has revealed Sunderland are close to signing Anthony Reveillere on a short-term deal to ease the club’s defensive crisis.

The Black Cats head coach confirmed right-back Billy Jones is out of tomorrow’s trip to Southampton after suffering a muscle injury in a practice match last week, and he joins Sebastian Coates on the injury list.

Santiago Vergini is likely to fill in for Jones at St Mary’s tomorrow in a move that will see Wes Brown return to partner John O’Shea, but that leaves Poyet down to the bare bones.

Free agent Reveillere, who was released by Napoli at the end of last season, has been on trial at the Stadium of Light and Poyet revealed he is close to offering the 24-year-old right-back a deal, understood to be three-months initially, on Wearside.

“Anthony is a highly experienced defender,” said Poyet.

“He knows the role, reads the game well, is comfortable in possession and is always very assured.

“He was playing in Italy last season which is a different kind of football and now it’s just a matter of him seeing the physical side that is such a part of English football.

“Everybody knows we are short at the back.

“We are coping with the situation as best we can but do not have a lot of options.”

Poyet is also without Emanuele Giaccherini and Ricky Alvarez.

He said: “For the first time since I have been here, I am without a group of players.

“The good thing, however, is that they are all different injuries. It is not as if there is a pattern to them which would be a concern.”