New strikers update....

It is being reported that Senegal striker Lamine Sakho is close to earning himself a contract at The Stadium of Light.

The St Etienne forward has been on trial in Sunderland since last week and is believed to have impressed McCarthy enough to persuade him to speak to chairman Bob Murray about finalising a loan deal.

Although french club Strasbourg have also enquired about the international striker, it is believe Sakho prefers a move to the Premiership having previously enjoyed a relatively successful spell in England's top division with Leeds in 2003.

Sakho's training ground displays have not stopped McCarthy from keeping his options open however as Cypriot striker Lukasz Sosin has also arrived on Wearside for a four day trial.

Sosin was in the crowd for Sunderland's recent home match against Chelsea and must have been impressed with what he saw, he told SkySports: 'My first impression is that Sunderland is a fantastic club to play for.

'Everything is perfect here - they have a fantastic training camp.' Sosin is set to stay until Wednesday when he will find out if he is to be offered a contract to help fight Sunderland's Premiership battle.

Meanwhile injury-plagued winger Matty Piper has not, contrary to reports, been on trial at Coventry. It was reported last week that the former Leicester man was to go for a 2 week trial at Coventry to prove his fitness before a possible loan deal.

However it is now claimed that Piper was simply there undergoing treatment, as he remains in close contact with boss Micky Adams from his spell at the Midlands club.