Roker Roundup: Sunderland’s top transfer target picks up injury - but Donald vows to spend

Despite Grigg injury, Donald vows to spend

Sunderland were potentially handed a blow on Saturday afternoon when Jack Ross’ main January transfer target Will Grigg picked up an injury during Wigan Athletic’s 1-0 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday.

Grigg was only a late substitute in the game but picked up an ankle injury and had to struggle on due to the end of the game due to Wigan making all three substitutes already.

Wigan manager Paul Cook believes the injury won’t be a very good one, as Grigg rolled his ankle:

Anthony’s rolled his ankle, Griggy’s rolled his ankle quite bad, and Cedric was struggling with an injury at the end as well but had to stay on,.

Will’s is poor, it looks like it won’t be a very good injury, we’ll just have to wait and see.

Anthony’s not too bad but Will doesn’t look too good at the minute. We’ll have them all scanned and take it from there.

Despite that potential blow, Sunderland owner Stewart Donald says that not only will the club strengthen the squad before the transfer window closes at the end of the month but that he will back Jack Ross by increasing the wage bill with new signings:

Loan roundup

Grimsby Town lost their local derby against Lincoln City at Sincil Bank thanks to a Harry Toffolo after just 12 minutes.

Elliot Embleton played the entire game and although he put in a few good deliveries into the box, including almost scoring direct from a corner, Grimsby struggled to test the host’s goalkeeper throughout the game.

Luke Molyneux suffered defeat on his Hartlepool United debut as they went down 3-1 at Harrogate Town.

Pools manager threw Molyneux straight into the starting line-up, along with two other new signings, but thought his side played like strangers and deserved defeat.

Williams Kokolo was an unused substitute for Darlington as they were beaten 2-1 by Spennymoor Town, a game which was notable for the feisty scenes during the game and Sunderland academy coach Jamie Chandler - who turns out for Spennymoor - spoken to by police after he made an offensive gesture.

Two of Jack Ross’ old clubs, Alloa Athletic and St Mirren, went head to head in the Scottish Cup and despite on loan Connor Shields playing well for Alloa, St Mirren fought back to reach the fifth round.

Alloa went into half-time 2-0 up against the Scottish Premiership side but St Mirren fought back after the break to win 3-2 and set up a fifth round home tie against Dundee United.

Lamine Kone’s Strasbourg won 5-1 at Thierry Henry’s Monaco. The home side had a man sent off after just 7 minutes and the visitors took full advantage, going 2-0 up within 10 minutes.

Although Radamel Falcao pulled a goal back before the break, Strasbourg scored another three goals in the second half and won comfortably despite Kone’s defensive partner Stefan Mitrovic also being shown a red card.

O’Neill hoping to reunite with McClean

Martin O’Neill was appointed Nottingham Forest manager last week and he may be reunited with Roy Keane, as his former Republic of Ireland assistant mulls over an offer to return to the City Ground.

Keane is not the only person O’Neill is looking to reunite with however, with reports suggesting that the new Forest manager is hoping to sign Stoke City winger James McClean.

McClean was handed his Premier League debut in O’Neill’s first game as Sunderland manager, the 2-1 win over Blackburn Rovers, and with the winger restricted to a place on the bench since Nathan Jones took over at the Bet365 Stadium, O’Neill may swoop to make the 29-year-old his first Forest signing.

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