O'Neill plans Gyan chat

Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill plans to contact striker Asamoah Gyan next week amid speculation he could be recalled from his loan spell in the United Arab Emirates.

The 26-year-old was loaned to Al-Ain in a deal worth around £6million to the Black Cats in August after becoming unsettled at the start of the season. His departure left the club short of frontmen, and O'Neill was forced to start with teenager Connor Wickham after just two days of training following a knee ligament injury for his first game in charge against Blackburn last weekend.

It is understood the prospects of Gyan returning to Wearside this season are remote, but O'Neill still plans to make a call out of courtesy. He said: "The chief executive gave me his number, I haven't had a chance to call it."

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