JACK Ross has confirmed that George Honeyman is at Hull City today to complete a medical – in a move that has surprised the Sunderland manager.

The Black Cats accepted an offer, of around £400,000, for the captain and he has travelled to Humberside to complete the deal.

Ross is not expecting to replace him with a player in that area of the pitch, although he is working on bringing in another left-back to challenge Denver Hume for the role.

But the Sunderland boss believes Honeyman - who is carrying a minor knee issue with 12 months remaining on his contract - can head to Hull with his head held high after coming through the ranks on Wearside.

Ross said; “It was a surprise because it was not something I was anticipating happening. I spoke to George last night. You have to make big decisions in a short space of time.

"It was a surprise to me, I didn’t believe it was on the horizon. It does affect what you expect to start the season. You will get these bumps along the way as well.

“I was open through pre-season, taken quite literally when I said one in and out. We have been around that in terms of numbers and budgets though.

"We have a lot of players who can play in his area of the pitch. Bryan Oviedo leaving leaves us short in that area.

“George is only having his medical today. I don’t want to get too far ahead. Once it is confirmed we will look at who is captain.

“If everything concludes as expected, from a personal point of view I can’t speak highly enough of him. He is a young man, coming through the academy and then captaining the club during a difficult period.

“In the fullness of time they will see he led the team out twice at Wembley in one season, like me, and didn’t get the results we wanted. He still did it. How he has conducted himself every single day here has been fantastic.”

Sunderland will start the new season at the Stadium of Light against Oxford when Aiden McGeady could figure.

The Irishman has recovered from his foot problem that troubled him last season but is still building up his overall fitness.

Ross said: “He has made really good progress with the injury, he is pain free. He has made big improvements with it. He has missed 60 per cent of pre-season which is a big chunk.

"He is still working on it. We have not got him fully fit for the start of the season. He still has some work to do. His foot has reacted well.”

The Sunderland manager also revealed that Duncan Watmore has trained today after missing the Heerenveen friendly with a thigh issue.

Chris Maguire has missed a bit of pre-season too, so will be assessed. Ethan Robson, Glenn Loovens and Charlie Wyke have all been ruled out of the Oxford visit.