SUNDERLAND’S young foreign imports continue to make their impression in training but head coach Tony Mowbray is not expecting to make wholesale changes to the team when they come up against Swansea City this weekend.

Eduoard Michut was handed his Black Cat debut in the 0-0 draw against Blackpool on Tuesday night while Abdoullah Ba and Jewison Bennette have all had an early impact on the side. Manchester United loanee Amad Diallo was handed his first start for the club against the Tangerines.

Sunderland are suffering with a number of injuries to key players with Ross Stewart and Ellis Simms remaining out of action but Mowbray is approaching the side of caution on throwing his new youngsters into the heart of the action. “I’m making calls on them players on how I feel they are interacting with the group and how they are evolving into being team players” he said.

“It’s very difficult to come from foreign country and, within a month, integrate straight into the way we play and what we want to do. I’m not thinking ‘I expect five changes at the weekend’. I’m pretty sure that is not going to happen.

“The lads have done pretty well. I know we have drawn three of the last four but they have worked really hard. They deserve to keep going and see how it goes. Whether we tinker with it, let’s wait and see. “(Dennis) Cirkin will be travelling with us so we will see what the plan is for him.”

Costa Rica winger Bennette is yet to start for the Black Cats but came on at Watford to score a last minute equaliser at Vicarage Road just before the international break. He continues to make his impression on the head coach as he continued: “Diallo got a start the other night. Jewison didn’t get a start because he’d been half way around the world and he’s just a kid. He brings what this team might need. A bit of speed in behind and directness to stretch the back line. At some stage, we’ve got to think about the assets we’ve got and how best to utilise them to help the team.”

Sunderland come up against a Swansea City side this weekend who have won four out of their last five games in the league and climbed into the play-offs places thanks to a late victory over Watford in midweek.