Sunderland face QPR at the Stadium of Light in the Championship on Saturday.

The Black Cats are hoping to halt their six-game losing streak under former head coach Michael Beale and current temporary manager Mike Dodds.

Here, however, we look at some of the major news from throughout the Championship that you might have missed in the lead-up to Saturday’s game:

During the January transfer window, Italian club Lazio was connected with a double move for Sunderland’s Jobe Bellingham and Jack Clarke. Last January, the Serie A club’s offer for Clarke was rejected twice. (Sports Witness)

Coventry City has signed 19-year-old defender Kain Ryan on a free transfer from Premier League Brighton and Hove Albion, following a successful trial. The Sky Blues have offered the centre-back a one-year contract after he was released. (Coventry Live).

Former Sunderland striker Connor Wickham has signed a short-term contract with League One club Charlton until the end of April. The 30-year-old forward has been without a club since leaving Cardiff at the conclusion of last season, but he has been training with Charlton for the last two weeks.Charlie Methven, previously of Sunderland, owns part of Charlton. (The Sunderland Echo)

Sunderland’s Championship game against Leeds in April has been scheduled for a live broadcast on Sky Sports. The Black Cats will go to Elland Road on Tuesday, April 9, but the match, which was originally scheduled for 7:45pm, will now begin at 8pm. (The Sunderland Echo)

 

previous Sunderland striker James Vaughan has been given a behind-the-scenes position at his previous club Everton. Vaughan will take over as head of youth recruiting at the Premier League club, leaving his present post as loans manager. (The Sunderland Echo)

Watford have fired head coach Valerien Ismael and chosen former footballer Tom Cleverley as acting manager. Cleverley, 34, resigned from football at the end of last season after making 181 appearances for Watford. The former Manchester United player was named the Hornets’ under-18s head coach at the start of the season. (The Sunderland Echo)

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