IN the end, it turned out to be a quiet January window for Sunderland. According to Regis Le Bris, though, that is no bad thing.

Two players arrived on Wearside, although while Enzo Le Fee has made an instant impact following his loan move from Roma, it will be a while before Jayden Danns is able to show what he is capable of because he has returned to his parent club, Liverpool, to receive treatment on a back injury.

Some fringe players left, but while Brighton made a series of attempts to sign Tommy Watson on deadline day, the window closed with the teenage winger still part of the Sunderland squad.

For the remainder of the season, Le Bris will effectively be continuing with what he already had. Although, as the head coach has been keen to point out since the window swung shut, the return of some key injured players should mean the squad is strengthened anyway in the next few weeks.

Salis Abdul Samed is finding his feet following his return from injury towards the end of last month, while Ian Poveda made his first appearance since October when he came off the bench in the closing stages of Monday’s 3-2 win at Middlesbrough.

Romaine Mundle should be back in a couple of weeks, with Alan Browne scheduled to return at around the same time, with Watson also due to be back in the fold before the end of this month. Get those three back, and Sunderland’s midfield options will be significantly enhanced just as the season is entering its critical phase.

“I think for us, our main recruitment is still in the team,” said Le Bris, whose side return to action on Saturday lunchtime when they host Watford at the Stadium of Light. “Ian Poveda, for example, was back at Middlesbrough, and Salis Abdul Samed was also involved.

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“We will have Romaine Mundle back involved a little bit later, and then Tommy (Watson). So, we have many talented players in this team and, as I have explained before, you have to trust your players before you can talk about recruitment outside. You have to support them when it’s difficult and help them to perform at their highest level.”

Le Bris outlined the need for forward cover in the closing weeks of the window, and while Danns’ injury situation is a blow, there is an expectation that the teenager will be able to return from Liverpool to play a role in the final stages of the season.

Beyond wanting to sign a striker, though, the Sunderland boss was not really interested in recruiting last month as he could not see any obvious weaknesses within the current squad.

“We did not have too many gaps (in the squad),” he said. “These players are learning, growing together, living many experiences. This team has a big margin (to grow), so it’s now a question of how quickly we can do it in this league that is so tough.”

Le Bris has been impressed with the resilience displayed by his side in recent weeks, singling out Wilson Isidor for special praise in the wake of his penalty disaster at Burnley.

Isidor missed two spot-kicks at Turf Moor, but since then, has had a goal controversially disallowed at Derby and scored in successive matches against Plymouth and Middlesbrough.

To Le Bris, that is evidence of the kind of determination, resolve and ability to bounce back from difficult moments that could be crucial in the final three months of the season.

“Resilience is a very important word in football,” said the Sunderland boss. “We have a young team with talented players and to fail, to make mistakes, is part of the process.

“If you accept these mistakes and want to learn from those experiences, you can learn very quickly. Wilson has shown this character, that he trusts the process. He is so involved with his team-mates, and he has set a good example for them.”