SUNDERLAND are awaiting legal advice before deciding on their next move with regard to defender Papy Djilobodji.

Djilobodji is back on Wearside after failing to engineer a move away from the Stadium of Light ahead of last week’s international transfer deadline.

The French centre-half refused to return to pre-season training at the start of the summer, and has not been paid for more than two months.

However, his return to the North-East has presented Sunderland with a problem, and the club’s owner, Stewart Donald, is receiving legal advice about his potential options.

There is a chance Sunderland could sack Djilobodji, although that would have financial repercussions as it would mean they almost certainly could not receive a fee if his registration was switched to another club.

A Sunderland statement said: “Papy Djilibodji has returned to the club, late and having missed pre-season and the opening month of the season proper.

“The club is taking legal advice on the situation, and the player has been undergoing fitness tests, to assess whether he has returned to the club in a state to play professional football.

“There will be no further comment until the player’s fitness has been assessed fully and the club has received full legal advice.”

Sunderland manager Jack Ross is an awkward position, as he has publicly stated that he cannot envisage a situation where Djilobodji plays in his team.

Those comments were made when the former Chelsea centre-half was still AWOL, and Ross is understandably reluctant to discuss the situation in too much depth while legal discussions are taking place.

Ross said: “The club released a statement, and from my perspective it remains the same. It’s gone above a station I can comment on, simply because it has moved into a legal area.

“It’s probably easier for me as a manager to deal with it in that sense. I’ve been consistent in saying that a resolution would help. We’ve said that for a while now, and that will still be the case.

“My focus and attention has always been on what I’ve had here. I’ve always been very open and consistent in that message from day one.”

Bryan Oviedo and Bali Mumba will miss Saturday’s home game with Fleetwood Town because of international duty, but Glenn Loovens and Adam Matthews are available after training today.

Ross said: “Glenn and Adam trained today, and they were fine. Aiden (McGeady) did a little bit with us today, which was encouraging. He’s still a bit away in terms of general fitness, but it was good to have him involved in the group.

“Duncan (Watmore) is continuing to work on his own, but is getting ever closer. That’s it now, which is really good.”