ADIL Aouchiche and Abdoullah Ba didn't travel with Sunderland's squad to Portsmouth because there was a "possibility" the pair could have left on transfer deadline day.

Sunderland decided it was best the duo stayed on Wearside while there remained some uncertainty over their future in the final hours of the window.

But after moves failed to materialise for either attacker, Regis Le Bris says it's possible for them to play their way into his plans and team.

The same goes for the likes of Jewison Bennette, Nazariy Rusyn and Zak Johnson, who all looked set to potentially leave Sunderland on loan but stayed put.

"Yes it's still possible (for them to have roles to play)," said Sunderland's head coach after Saturday's Portsmouth win.

"We have three or four months until the next transfer window. They'll work with us and it's still possible to play in the team."

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Confirming why Ba and Aouchiche didn't travel with the squad to Portsmouth, Le Bris said: "It was a possibility (they could leave) so we decided to leave them in Sunderland.

"They will come back in to training next week."

It was a busy end to the transfer window for Sunderland, who added four new players to their squad on deadline day.

Chris Mepham and Salis Abdul Samed joined on season-long loan deals, while highly-rated midfielder Milan Aleksic and striker Ahmed Abdullahi signed permanently.

Asked for his verdict and whether he's pleased with the way window played out, Le Bris said: "I will think about it later I think.

"We worked hard, it's not easy this transfer window. It ends after the Championship has started so it's strange.

"We are confident and happy because we wanted some players in different positions and I think we have that.

"We need to develop other players as well. We can have a good player who comes from another club but now he needs to play with us, so we have work ahead during the next two weeks."

Mepham's arrival came just hours before Sunderland confirmed Aji Alese was facing 10-12 weeks out of action with an ankle injury.

Le Bris said: "We analysed the squad and the players. It was clear that one more defender was necessary for the balance of the team so it's good for us."