One of the key areas in which Sunderland needed to expand their squad this summer was in the striking role. Plenty of names were linked but it soon became clear that Charlie Wyke was the man they had decided would fill the role.
Sunderland worked hard to sign him in the summer. Eventually, Bradford City relented, selling Wyke to Sunderland in a deal reportedly worth a fee in the region of £1 million.
Unfortunately for Sunderland, they have not yet seen the best of the striker. He arrived recovering from a knee injury. After just three tentative games back into first-team action, he suffered a knee injury in a massive collision with Burton Albion goalkeeper Dimitar Evtimov.
He has not played since September but made the bench for the 1-0 win over former club Bradford on Boxing Day, coming on in the 85th minute.
Sunderland will now hope he can return to starting XI action in 2019.
The Black Cats appear resigned to losing Josh Maja in January and Jerome Sinclair has done little to impress the fans on Wearside.
Wyke will be as good as a new signing next month.