REGIS Le Bris insists he's calm about Sunderland's ongoing search for a striker, stressing that he remains focused on the players currently at his disposal rather than who might or might not be joining the ranks in the coming weeks.

The Black Cats host Sheffield Wednesday this weekend looking to build on their opening day win at Cardiff City, but with only two weeks of the transfer window remaining they haven't yet bolstered their forward line with a striker - despite that being the obvious priority this summer.

Sunderland have so far only made two outfield signings, with Alan Browne and Ian Poveda - who hasn't yet played - joining this summer and Le Bris admits more players are "needed", with the lack of depth on show this week when the second string lost at Preston in the Carabao Cup.

But rather than constantly knocking on the door of Kristjaan Speakman and asking for recruitment updates, Le Bris says his focus is on the development and improvement of the players already at the club - saying the answer to problems isn't always to make a signing.

He said: "We always need more talented players, more experienced players.

"But I always explain this idea: sometimes we think that the solution is outside, but here at the club, I think we want to improve, we want to develop our players.

"It's a long process, but we believe in them. We believe in their capacity to improve. Sometimes the football is not really ready for that, but this is our idea at the club."

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Sunderland remain interested in Alexandre Mendy but the Black Cats and Caen still haven't been able to come to an agreement for the 30-year-old, who is desperate to make the switch to the Stadium of Light.

The club also continue to monitor the Premier League loan market with a view to bringing in a young forward on a temporary deal. That didn't go to plan last summer with Mason Burstow, who is now set to join Hull City permanently.

Meanwhile, Le Bris was encouraged by Pierre Ekwah's display at Preston in the midfielder's first outing of the season.

Ekwah has been linked with a move away and Le Bris admitted last week he can't offer any guarantees when it comes to the future of the former West Ham man.

But he was impressed by the 22-year-old's showing at Deepdale.

He said: "He was injured for the most part of the pre-season, so it was his first game. I think he wasn't so far from his best level, so it's good news for us."