HARRISON Jones and Zak Johnson could both leave Sunderland on loan this month, Regis Le Bris has confirmed, with the Black Cats looking to strike the "right balance" with their promising young players.

Jones and Johnson have both been regulars in Sunderland matchday squads this season but haven't yet played a minute of Championship action.

Gateshead are now said to be keen on taking Jones on loan for the second half of the season, while Johnson, who previously impressed at Dundalk, wouldn't be short of takers should Sunderland sanction his temporary exit.

"Yes, it's a possibility," confirmed Le Bris, when asked whether loan moves are an option for the pair.

"At the end of this window we have to find the right balance between the team and the depth of the squad for the games but for the training sessions as well. They are very useful for that and they are very connected. But we have to think about their own pathway as well. That's important."

RECOMMENDED READING:

• Regis Le Bris outlines why Enzo Le Fee is ideal Sunderland fit as midfielder jets in

• 'He didn't like it, but it was the making of him' - how hurt drove Sunderland star on

Jones and Johnson could yet be involved for Sunderland in tomorrow's FA Cup tie against Stoke City, but Le Bris has ruled out wholesale changes for the game.

He said: "The first idea with the team this weekend is to reinforce the dynamic rather than thinking about recovering. We have had a full week before this game and we will have more or less a full week before the next one. So it's not a question of recovery right now.

"We could have a couple of changes but we will keep the main dynamic around the game because we want to win, it's a knockout game. It's a different mindset but we want to keep our dynamic rather than change everything.

"I have said it before, it is so difficult to build a strong dynamic so you have to keep it and feed it rather than change everything. So it's still useful for one, two or three players who are important for the team and if they can get some game time, it is better for us. But the most important thing is to win the game."

Salis Abdul Samed could make his Sunderland debut, while Chris Rigg is also available to return.

Tomorrow's game will come too soon for Dan Ballard, but the defender is expected to be ready for next Friday's trip to Burnley. Ahmed Abdullahi could also be in contention for that game.