Mike Dodds sets out Sunderland's stance on loans this summer and makes Chelsea youngster prediction

Mike Dodds expects Sunderland to use the loan market as they strengthen their squad this summer but insists it will only be used on a limited basis.

The Black Cats are stepping up their recruitment planning this week as they look to bounce back from a bitterly disappointing second half of the campaign, which led them to finishing the season in 16th place. Chelsea loanee Mason Burstow struggled to make a regular impact over the course of the campaign but Dodds says Amad’s example shows why it will remain an important avenue to explore. The interim head coach says the key is to ensure the club is not overly dependent on loans and blocks the pathway to the first team as a result.

“Definitely [we’ll look to the loan market],” Dodds said.

“For a club like us that wants to grow and develop, have a sustainable model and assets within the squad, the loan market is always one you have to treat with respect and care. What we don't want to be doing is developing other teams' players. But at the same time if an Amad type comes along that you feel will help you get to the play-offs, for instance, then it's definitely a market you have to try and exploit. But exploiting the loan market won't be to fill the squad because we'd much rather an academy boy in the squad that someone else's player. Or a young player who has probably not the credentials right now to propel us to the Premier League but has the potential to get there. That's where the loan market has to be used to our advantage but not scupper what we're trying to do.”

Sunderland are unlikely to pursue a return for Burstow next season but Dodds believes confidence was the key issue during his loan spell and has no doubts that he will go on to forge a successful career in the game.

“I feel a little bit sorry for Mason,” Dodds said.

“For strikers in particular, if you score early in your loan or when you move to a new club, life becomes a lot easier. Sometimes with strikers or forward players, there's a huge psychological factor. They know the main reason, obviously there are other things, but the main reason they're recruited is to score goals. As that goes on that weight becomes greater and greater. I feel a bit sorry for Mase. I do think he's one where in two or three years people will see him and say 'how much has he developed!'. I do think there's huge potential there.

“Amad last year, I wouldn't say we got lucky because I don't think we did, but Amad had a loan prior to us at Rangers which went terribly. Sometimes good managers in the wrong club, sometimes you have good players at the wrong club. Amad and Sunderland fitted. He was a wonderful player but people won't look at the fact he went to Rangers and hardly played and wasn't great. Even when we recruited him, we watched his Rangers clips and were a bit like.... But then you look prior to that and we knew he was a really good player. I hope Mason goes on and does really, really well. I hope he doesn't score against Sunderland, obviously, but I hope he does really well.”