Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce is reportedly hoping to recall goalkeeper Jordan Pickford from his Preston North End loan spell.
The 21-year-old has impressed during his three months at Deepdale, keeping nine clean sheets for the Championship outfit since joining.
It has been a different story for current first-choice Black Cats stopper Costel Pantilimon, on the other hand, who has kept just one shutout in the top flight and conceded a total of 25 goals in the process.
According to the Sunderland Echo, Allardyce may now take advantage of the terms in Pickford's contract and bring the England Under-21s international back to the North-East in January.
A clean sheet against Queens Park Rangers on Saturday will make it a club-record run of six on the bounce for Preston.
