ALEX NEIL is hoping the deadlock in Sunderland’s attempts to sign forwards will be broken now Premier League clubs are beginning to return from their overseas tours.

The Black Cats’ lack of attacking resources was brutally exposed last night as Neil was forced to pair Jack Diamond and Jack Clarke in a makeshift attack as his side slumped to a 2-0 defeat at League Two Bradford City, with Ross Stewart being rested after he played at Dundee United at the weekend.

Sunderland have lodged a loan bid for Troy Parrott, but the Tottenham striker has been in South Korea with the rest of Antonio Conte’s first-team squad, making it impossible to sign him.

Neil is also keen to re-sign Nathan Broadhead from Everton, and with clubs returning from overseas ahead of the start of the new season, there could finally be some much-needed progress in the next few days.

“I don’t want to do my business on the last day in August,” said the Sunderland head coach. “I want to get my business done as quickly as possible. But the simple fact, unfortunately for us, is that we’re not in control of that.

“There’s a lot of teams at the moment, certainly from the Premier League, that are only just coming back from trips abroad. You can’t sign a player if he’s in a different country.

“There’s been ongoing discussions with numerous players, from different clubs, and the minute we get something across the line, which I can assure you we want to get done as soon as possible, then everybody will be made aware.

"At certain times, though, that process cannot get speeded up by what we’re trying to do. We’re banging the door down as much as we can.

“I’m naturally concerned by the fact that we’ve currently got one centre-forward in the building, but there is a lot of work going on behind the scenes to try to make sure we remedy that.”