Former Manchester United midfielder Quinton Fortune will learn this week whether he has done enough to win a deal at Roy Keane's Sunderland.
"Quinton has been with us about a month and we'll make a decision on him in the next week," Keane told the club's official website.
"It's a case of helping each other out. We're having a look at Quinton, he's building his fitness up after a serious operation, but there'll be more news on that over the weekend."
If Fortune is handed a deal he will become Keane's second signing of the January transfer window following Jonny Evans' arrival on loan from Manchester United.