MICHAEL Beale has confirmed the imminent loan exit of Jewison Bennette, with the Sunderland winger set to join Greek outfit Aris Thessaloniki until the end of the season.

The teenager flanker has only played nine minutes of Championship football for the Black Cats this season.

But Beale insists he still has high hopes for the Costa Rica international in the future and wants the 19-year-old to return in pre-season ready to kick-on and establish himself on Wearside.

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“Jewi has travelled over for that,” Beale confirmed after Saturday's victory over Stoke City.

“Jewi is a player that I’ve got a lot of hope for in the future if I’m honest, but he’s got a need to play. Also, with his national team in the background and the tournaments they’ve got coming up, he needs to go and play and play now.

“I came in and the boy was probably looking to get a loan to give himself some regular football. But, come pre-season, Jewi will be back in the building.

“I’ve seen a lot that I like with Jewi so he’s a player for the future for us, for sure. It's not a loan to send someone away, it’s a loan to allow someone to play and get some oxygen to build up his confidence again.

With Bennette's loan exit close and Alex Pritchard making clear his desire to leave the club in the coming days, Beale could suddenly be short of options in the attacking midfield area.

Asked whether it now becomes a priority to strengthen in that area, Beale said: "Look, we've always been looking to strengthen given the players that have gone on loan and the injuries we have. Numbers were really light today and you can see that."