CHELSEA have the option of recalling Mason Burstow in January – but Tony Mowbray does not expect the Sunderland loanee to be restored to the fold at Stamford Bridge.

Last January, Sunderland’s plans were thrown into chaos when Everton opted to recall Ellis Simms from his loan spell at the Stadium of Light.

Like Simms, Burstow is also on a season-long loan deal, and like Simms, there is the option for the 20-year-old to be recalled by his parent club when the transfer window reopens at the turn of the year.

However, whereas Simms had been a reasonably prolific scorer in the first half of last season, and Everton were desperately short of attacking options, Burstow is yet to find the net in a Sunderland shirt and Chelsea should be welcoming back summer signing Christopher Nkunku from injury in the next few weeks.

As a result, Mowbray does not expect Burstow to be needed in west London in the second half of the season.

He said: “I'm expecting him (Burstow) to be here for the season. I'm sure there will be a recall in there - every loan these days seems to have a recall (clause).

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“Chelsea seem to have turned the corner a little bit in terms of results though, so maybe there won't be such urgency to recall a young boy to do a man's job for them.”

Burstow was on the bench as Sunderland lost at Stoke City at the weekend, having only just returned from international duty with England Under-20s on the eve of the game at the bet365 Stadium.

He is set to be restored to the starting line-up when the Black Cats visit the King Power Stadium to take on Championship leaders Leicester City tomorrow night, with Mowbray hoping a first Sunderland goal will see the floodgates open.

The Black Cats boss said: “I think Mason just has to grow into it. He needs a goal - we've said that - but he works hard on all aspects of his game and his finishing, and I'm sure the goal is just around the corner somewhere.

“Hopefully, he is one of those strikers where he gets one and then a whole flurry of them come pretty quickly. We have to persevere and keep going with him.”