Jonny Williams has only played nine Championship games for Sunderland since joining on loan from Premier League side Crystal Palace.
For the most part, performances have improved since Chris Coleman took over at the Stadium of Light in late November.
But as it stands, Sunderland find themselves bottom of the Championship table and know that the January transfer window could be key to their survival, which does not exactly bode well when the club barely have two pennies to rub together.
Coleman, then, will be hoping for a lot more from Jonny Williams in the second half of the season with the midfielder’s loan spell at Sunderland from Crystal Palace being dogged by injuries so far.
According to The Sunderland Echo, left-back Brendan Galloway could return to parent club Everton this month after failing to make an impression on Wearside after joining on a season-long loan back in the summer. Galloway has only made two substitute appearances since Coleman took over.
But the report adds that the same fate is unlikely to befall Williams, who could yet be a key part of the 47-year-old’s plans once he recovers from a shoulder injury, alhough it is expected that he could face another six weeks on the sidelines.
Coleman knows Williams well from his time in charge of the Welsh national team and continued to put his faith in the diminutive play-maker even when his progress at club level was stalling.
The 24-year-old was excellent when called upon as Wales stunningly reached the semi-finals of Euro 2016 and he possesses the kind of creativity and vision in the final third that Sunderland are lacking.
So with the report stating that Williams is likely to remain on loan at the Stadium of Light, Coleman will be counting down the days until he returns.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
