SUNDERLAND manager Alex Neil has considered the option of using Jack Clarke as a central striker but hopes he’s not forced to play him out of position.

The Black Cats are continuing to work behind the scenes to add to their attacking ranks before the start of the season with Ross Stewart standing alone as the club’s only senior striker.

The club have made a fresh approach for Everton’s Nathan Broadhead who spent last season on loan at the Stadium of Light. His chances of breaking into the Toffees first-team look slim and Sunderland look to capitalise with a year left on his current deal.

Meanwhile, the club have submitted enquiries to Tottenham Hotspur over a loan deal for Troy Parrott who has been out with the team during their pre-season tour of South Korea.

However, given Sunderland’s current lack of options in a attack, Neil does have a trick up his sleeve in one of his summer recruits.

He said: “He (Clarke) played the end of the Roma game as a centre-forward. I think last year, we went to Morecambe and he played 30 minutes as a centre forward.

“Jack can play across the front line. He can play left, right or central. Like most players he has got a preference but equally he’s happy to do a job for the team.”

Despite the fact that Clarke may well be happy to do a job for the team, Neil is hoping that progress can be made on the transfer front before the start of the season.

The Scotsman tends to use a 4-2-3-1 formation but has revealed he will experiment with different formations, mainly using two strikers up front, before the start of the season. However, the considerable lack of numbers means that Clarke may partner Stewart in attack for try out the formation.

“I’d hope that’s not the situation but we may very well find ourself there. There are lots of things out of our control but it’s certainly an option” said the Sunderland boss.

“The simple fact is I’ll have the tools that I have like I did last season and I’ll try to and make the best of what we’ve got in terms of who is available. Equally, we want to try and improve and strengthen the squad to try and give ourselves the best chance of being successful this year. I’m pretty sure all the teams are the same so we’re no different.”

Stewart played 60 minutes of their 2-0 win over Dundee United at the weekend as he made his return from injury. The frontman is set to play the full game of Sunderland’s pre-season friendly against Bradford City tomorrow night.

“Yeah no problems” Neil added “I certainly wouldn’t have risked them today if there had been problems. Ross wanted to play longer but that’s us done 45 minutes to 60 and then we’ll build him up to 90 in the next one. I think that is a good progression for him.”

The Black Cats make the trip to Valley Parade for a 7pm kick-off against the League Two side now managed by former Manchester City manager Mark Hughes.