SUNDERLAND boss Roy Keane last night made his fifth signing of the transfer window when right-back Danny Simpson signed on loan from Manchester United until the end of the season.

The 20-year-old full-back, who is a highly-rated member of United's much-vaunted Academy, will meet his new Black Cats' team-mates later today and is expected to go straight into the squad for next Tuesday's home game with Crystal Palace.

Salford-born Simpson, who has had two previous loan spells with United's feeder club, Royal Antwerp, played alongside fellow Sunderland loanee, Jonny Evans, in the Belgian League during the first half of this season.

He made his debut Manchester United appearance in a pre-season friendly with South African side Kaiser Chiefs last summer, and Sir Alex Ferguson claimed he looked "anything but a player making his first start for Manchester United."

The youngster joins Evans, Marton Fulop, Carlos Edwards and Anthony Stokes on Keane's list of January signings, and his arrival addresses a major weakness in the Black Cats' backline.

With Nyron Nosworthy carving out a name for himself at centre-half, and Stephen Wright slowly returning from a long-term injury lay-off, Keane has been forced to field Dean Whitehead as an emergency right-back on a number of occasions this season.

Simpson's arrival undoubtedly enhances Sunderland's defensive options, but the Black Cats seems certain to lose one of their most experienced defenders this month after Keane confirmed he had accepted Burnley's offer for Stephen Caldwell.

As exclusively revealed in yesterday's Northern Echo, Caldwell spent Wednesday locked in contract discussions with Burnley boss Steve Cotterill.

The Sunderland skipper has subsequently returned to Wearside to consider his options, with Burnley believed to have offered him significantly less money than he is currently earning at the Stadium of Light.

"We've agreed a fee with Sunderland and we're now waiting to hear back from the player and his agent," said Cotterill. "I met Steve on Wednesday at the ground, and we're just waiting for a decision.

"He would be a good signing for the club. We had a good, positive meeting on Wednesday, but I think he's got a couple of things he needs to sort out first."

Caldwell's Sunderland contract expires in the summer, and Keane has confirmed that talks over a new deal collapsed last week.

"Steve's contract is expiring in the summer, so we had to look at the situation," said the Irishman. "It's a long story and I don't really want to go into it. But I spoke to Steve and his agent and there were a few things I wasn't happy about.

"Steve Cotterill had been on to me and he came back on Monday and made an offer. And I thought that in the interests of the club, we would accept it."

William Mocquet could also be severing his ties with Sunderland this month, but the French midfielder will not be joining Scottish Premier League side Hibernian after failing to impress in a trial.

Mocquet, who has been deemed surplus to requirements on Wearside, turned out for Hibs as they took on Sunderland's reserves at the Academy of Light on Wednesday.

But after watching the 24-year-old at first hand, Hibs boss John Collins has decided not to take his interest any further.

Keane also learned yesterday that Edwards was being lined up for the captaincy of Trinidad & Tobago, but the Sunderland midfielder has assured his new employers he will be putting club before country despite the honour.

With Black Cats team-mate Dwight Yorke having taken a step back from the international set-up following last summer's World Cup, Edwards has emerged as the leading candidate for the vacant captain's armband.

Trinidad boss Wim Rijsbergen is expected to confirm the 28-year-old's appointment this spring, ahead of his side's participation in June's Concacaf Gold Cup in the United States.

But, while Edwards is understandably delighted to be following in Yorke's footsteps, he insists he will not allow his international ambitions to clash with his domestic duties with Sunderland.

"I know I'm an important part of the Trinidad team now, and a lot of people are talking about me possibly taking over the captaincy at some stage in the future," said the winger, who was widely acclaimed as his country's best player during last year's World Cup.

"Everyone seems to be favouring me to be the captain and that would be a massive honour, but I know I have to come to agreements that are suitable to both my club and my country. I want to keep both of my managers with a smile on their face."

Keane has already been forced to discuss Yorke's international future, with the veteran striker agreeing to miss a Trinidad match in October in order to be available for the following weekend's Championship fixture at Preston.

The Black Cats boss will be hoping to come to a similar arrangement with Edwards, and the early indications are that both the player and his national selectors will be flexible.

Neither Edwards nor Yorke will be travelling to the Caribbean when the Soca Warriors take on Panama and Costa Rica in friendlies next month, and the former is confident that all parties can continue to work together effectively in the future.

"I haven't discussed things with the manager (Keane) directly, but he did mention something to my agent when I signed," said Edwards. "I told my agent exactly what my agenda is, and I also have good communication with the manager back in Trinidad.

"He knows the situation, I've just joined a new club and my priority at the moment has to be there."

In the past, the complexities of the international calendar would have made it difficult for Edwards to juggle his commitments on either side of the world.

But, with FIFA having ordered all confederations to fall into line with a pre-arranged set of dates, the opportunity for conflict has decreased considerably.

"In the past, we've always had a problem of having games outside of the international week," explained Edwards. "That created problems for some of the players, but FIFA have tightened up the rules and now all of Trinidad's matches will fall within specific international weeks that apply to every country in the world.

"I'll have the occasional long trip in the future, but at least it will be an official international week when other people are away as well."