Sunderland No2 Eric Black expects manager Steve Bruce to buy only genuine quality in January.

Black cannot see Bruce making a huge number of winter market signings.

He told safc.com: "The manager's proved himself in the transfer market. I think people recognise that the players he's brought in have made the team better and that they're good players.

"We've got a smaller squad than a lot of teams but we've got a lot of quality in there and the players have responded really well.

"We don't know what the circumstances will be at the time but I don't think the manager will be going out and adding four or five players to the squad, I really don't.

"If we're going to buy someone, they have to play every week. There's no point in bringing people in to add depth at this stage."