SUNDERLAND are no longer in the market for a left-back following the impending return of Dennis Cirkin and Denver Hume.

It was revealed earlier today that the pair, alongside Corry Evans, are ahead of schedule in their recoveries from a double hernia and ankle injury respectively and have been involved with training today at the Academy of Light.

Despite the fact they are progressing well, the trip to Ipswich Town will come too soon for them.

Manager Lee Johnson told the media that the club were preparing to face the prospect of having to find a short-term solution for their left-back problems next month when the transfer window opens but recent news has realigned their plans.

He said: “Every bit of information you receive has to really affect what you do.

“It changes rapidly, a couple of injuries here and there. We clearly don’t need a left-back now with having two on the cusp of returning to fitness.

“We need to improve, we do that a number of ways working on the training ground, recruitment, building that cohesion.”

Sunderland have recently had an upturn in form in recent weeks following four wins from six in League One, a run of games which has seen them climb up to third in the table.

They face an Ipswich Town side that are supplanted in mid-table in 12th place and have recently parted company with manager Paul Cook, despite a summer of heavy investment at the club.

While the trip to Suffolk will pose a huge threat to a side that is brimming with confidence, Johnson says he’s warned the players about being overconfident given their recent form.  

He added: “I said to the boys you’re playing really well. It’s the perfect state of football arrogance. It’s focused but it’s intelligent and we need to continue that. We can’t step into complacency, which is dead easy to do, and we can’t lack belief in what we are trying to do which, at the moment, I don’t expect to happen.

“Our risk, at the moment, is complacency but that’s why I was pleased today that the session was feisty. We had a couple of players back from injury. A couple of young players that really trying to stamp their authority on the first-team session.

“That vibe is created off a will to win and character.”