Jones and Johnson have both been regulars in Sunderland matchday squads this season but haven’t yet played a minute of Championship action.

Gateshead are now said to be keen on taking Jones on loan for the second half of the season, while Johnson, who previously impressed at Dundalk, wouldn’t be short of takers should Sunderland sanction his temporary exit.

“Yes, it’s a possibility,” confirmed Le Bris, when asked whether loan moves are an option for the pair.

“At the end of this window we have to find the right balance between the team and the depth of the squad for the games but for the training sessions as well. They are very useful for that and they are very connected. But we have to think about their own pathway as well. That’s important.”

Jones and Johnson could yet be involved for Sunderland in tomorrow’s FA Cup tie against Stoke City, but Le Bris has ruled out wholesale changes for the game.

He said: “The first idea with the team this weekend is to reinforce the dynamic rather than thinking about recovering. We have had a full week before this game and we will have more or less a full week before the next one. So it’s not a question of recovery right now.