Sunderland admit they want '˜a striker' amid speculation linking them with Wigan Athletic's Will Grigg

The Latics fans’ favourite has slipped down the pecking order in Paul Cook’s side.

And it is thought Sunderland want him to join Max Power at the League One outfit.

Ross admitted he wanted to bolster their firepower.

“The reality is that this season, in the main, we’ve played without an out-and-out striker,” he said.

“I do feel that for the rest of the season we need another striker in that area of the pitch.”

Asked about Grigg specifically, he said: “You won’t be surprised to hear that I won’t comment on any particular player.

“But the identification of players has happened long before now and it’s now just how that unfolds.

“It’s not just over the next couple of days, but over the remainder of the month.”