Sunderland are on the hunt for another striker to bolster their forward line for their all-important League One campaign.
Former Sunderland loanee Ashley Fletcher looks to be at the wrong end of the striker pecking order with his current side Middlesbrough, with four other forwards likely to be favoured in front of the 22-year-old.
The Keighley-born player’s hopes of breaking into the first-team of Sunderland’s rivals have taken a hit after Jordan Hugill linked up with Middlesbrough.
However, with Sunderland hoping to grab another striker in this window, they should look at signing the out-of-favour Fletcher on a second loan spell.
Fletcher did not enjoy the best of times on Wearside, scoring just twice for Sunderland in the Championship.
However, the youngster often showed promise, as demonstrated in the game away to Derby County last term, when Sunderland won 3-1 and Fletcher got on the score sheet; delivering a man of the match performance along the way.
With Sunderland now in the third tier, a move back to Wearside and a drop down in division for the Boro man could be exactly what Fletcher needs to kick-start his career.
Jack Ross and Sunderland are running out of time to sign a forward on a permanent switch, with the transfer window closing late Thursday evening.
But with the option for Football League clubs to sign loan players not ending until later this month, a deal for Fletcher could be easily achieved in the next few days if both clubs and the player were to agree terms.
42-year-old Ross will be hoping to sign another striker regardless, whether that be Fletcher or not, with Jerome Sinclair, Charlie Wyke and Duncan Watmore all currently on the injury list.
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