Assessing Sunderland's squad and where each player stands heading into pre-season

Sunderland's players will return to training next week and as yet there will be no new faces joining them.

Ten players have left the club - including Reece James who signed for Doncaster - but as yet nobody has come in as new signings for the promotion hopefuls.

Jack Ross knows that he must help the club return to the second tier next term, with nothing else this time being acceptable.

The retained list might be out, but there is plenty of uncertainty surrounding many of the players staying. After last season's big changes, Ross is unlikely to want a similar overhaul this term.

But whether it's a point to prove or a future away from the club, there's plenty of uncertainty for particular players.

We assess each Sunderland player and where they stand when they return to the club for pre-season in July.

Jon McLaughlin

One of the few with no uncertainty. The Scot was fantastic last season and has established himself as a reliable number one.

Donald Love

A forgotten man at Sunderland, Love hasn't featured since the September 1 draw with Oxford. He still has a year to run on his contract, but seems to be out of Jack Ross' plans and will likely be asked to find a new club this summer.

Luke O'Nien

Signed as a central midfielder, O'Nien's willingness to play and win saw him claim the right-back spot during an injury crisis and cement his place in the team there. Next season will be interesting. Is he happy to stay at right-back where he'll likely face competition from a new natural right-back signing? Or will he or Ross see his future back in midfield? The pre-season friendlies will provide the former Wycombe man a chance to secure where his future lies.

Bryan Oviedo

One of the top earners at Sunderland, they will be hoping desperately to shift him this summer. Unlike many of his former Premier League team-mates, Oviedo has never sulked during the Black Cats' demise and always made himself available. But this summer should be the right time for both parties to part. Finding a buyer willing to match his wages will be the hard part.

Denver Hume

Sunderland officials are delighted that the young, attacking left-back has committed his future to the club. Ross rates him highly after an impressive breakthrough season, albeit one blighted slightly by injury. If he can stay fit, Hume will be first choice left-back next term, which is why James moved on.

Tom Flanagan

Arguably Sunderland's best centre-back, Flanagan was usually preferred with one other whenever fit last season. But centre-back was Sunderland's Achilles heel and at least one new arrival should be expected next season. There'll be competition, but one of the two starting spots appear to be the Northern Irishman's to lose.

Alim Ozturk

Written off too quickly after a shaky start, the Turk resurrected his Black Cats career around Easter time. Nobody in December would have predicted he would be starting the most important game of the season, but that's what his form earned. It should also ensure he gets another shot to impress next term, but he will face a task to be a regular starter again.

Jack Baldwin

A great start saw him become a fan-favourite before errors started creeping increasingly into his game. His second half of the season was poor and he was dropped altogether by the end. Should get a second chance next season, but has a lot of work to do if he aspires to be anything more than a back-up option. Needs to build a level of trust with Ross and the supporters again with some early commendable performances.

Glenn Loovens

The 35-year-old didn't feature again after his red card at Portsmouth in December. Not needed by Sunderland but has a year remaining on his contract and there's unlikely to be much interest. If he doesn't retire he could end up spending the season on the sidelines at Sunderland, although the suggestions are that his experience and willingness to help team-mates and youngsters make him useful enough to have around. Freeing up his wages would be better though.

Grant Leadbitter

The 33-year-old still has two years remaining on the deal he signed back in January. While it's clear he is coming to the end of his career, he proved countless times that he's still a useful squad member and could benefit from a full pre-season this summer having barely featured for six months when he arrived back on Wearside. Won't be a guaranteed starter, but will give his all to help the club achieve success, as was evidenced in the play-off final second leg.

Lee Cattermole

A very uncertain summer awaits Cattermole. Expected to leave last summer due to his high earnings, when there was no interest he went on to have one of his best seasons at the club for years. Whether the club are happy to continue paying such high wages remains to be seen, however. He will celebrate ten years at the club this summer, so could get a testimonial.

Max Power

While he didn't set the world alight, Max Power was usually reliable (but for a few unfortunate red cards early on) and brought plenty of League One experience to the squad. Will be a valued squad member next season but will have to improve if he wants to start regularly.

Dylan McGeouch

Described as a 'coup' signing last summer, McGeouch has struggled to make the mark at Sunderland. Even when coming back into the team and impressing, the Scot would either get injured or quickly find himself out of the team. There's quality there and after deciding to stay another season he will have pre-season this summer to remind everyone of the quality he possesses.

Ethan Robson

An academy graduate who could finally make his big breakthrough next season. Ross is known to be a big fan of the left-footed midfielder and didn't want him to go on loan to Dundee in January. But Robson was set on going and playing, which Ross respected. Injuries were the only reason he wasn't right in the mix early on last season but if he can stay injury free this pre-season there's a good chance he will start many games next season.

Elliot Embleton

Out of contract and still considering a new deal from the club, Embleton is one of the most exciting youngsters to emerge from the Black Cats' academy for some time. An England youth international, he impressed on loan at Grimsby last season and, if he stays, could become an important first team player next season. Many fans would certainly be keen on looking more to the future with Embleton and Robson next season, but the fact he's yet to sign a new deal yet is concerning and doesn't fill you with much confidence.

Chris Maguire

Christened the King by Sunderland supporters, Maguire is one of the most popular players at the club among supporters. He has that magic ability to turn a game in a moment but was inconsistent at times throughout the season. He will need to try and step-up, but his place among Sunderland's first teamers is unlikely to be under threat unless it's an exceptional summer in the transfer market.

Aiden McGeady

No Sunderland fan will want the Irishman to leave this summer after an incredible campaign. But at 33 and big wages, his form could see him attract interest this summer. Will he want to stay? Will the club think it's better to cash in? A lot of uncertainty surrounds the summer ahead for McGeady.

George Honeyman

He might divide opinion of fans but he's club captain and a trusted member of Jack Ross' squad. He will be a regular again next season.

Lynden Gooch

By his own admission, the American academy graduate's form was not good enough last season, particularly in the second half of the season. It's highly unlikely he'll not be part of Sunderland's squad next season, but he faces a big summer, and then season, to prove he has a long-term future at the club.

Bali Mumba

Will be interesting to see what Sunderland do with Mumba next term. He'll turn 18 during the season and might be suited to going out on loan, with first team chances unlikely.

Will Grigg

Only managed five goals after a big-money move from Wigan in January. Grigg faces a big summer at Sunderland. He arrived injured and severely lacking match fitness so must use pre-season to get himself fit and firing if he's to reignite his career on Wearside.

Charlie Wyke

With Grigg misfiring Wyke was preferred to the Northern Irishman in the final weeks of the season, but still failed to find the goalscoring touch that saw the Black Cats target him so strongly last summer. His pre-season then was non-existent thanks to a knee injury which he suffered again just after his comeback and his season didn't get started until the New Year. Like Grigg, Wyke will hope for a good pre-season this year, to help get off to a fast start next season.

Duncan Watmore

It's hard to think of a footballer of the last five years who've had worse luck than poor Duncan Watmore. After missing two years of action to two ACL injuries, Watmore finally got himself back, scored his first league goal before being injured by a bad tackle in the same game to end his season. Was fit for the play-off final but was left out of the squad. He'll be hoping to return in the summer and have a good pre-season to work up his fitness. A big year ahead for the former England U21 international.

Benji Kimpioka

Another talented academy youngster, the Swede showed flashes of the quality he possesses when given opportunities last season, but showed equally that he's raw and has plenty to work on. How well he does in pre-season could determine whether he's in the first team next season or out on loan. They need to sort his contract too, which has just 12 months to run.