Marc McNulty is wanted by Hibernian manager Jack Ross - but it is not straightforward

Ex-Sunderland manager Jack Ross has confirmed that he wants to sign Marc McNulty, who is currently on loan with the Black Cats

Former Sunderland manager Jack Ross has confirmed he is keen to bring Marc McNulty to Hibernian.

Ross brought the Scotland international striker to Wearside on a season-long loan last summer and he impressed in the early stages of the season.

But Ross was sacked by the Black Cats in October, and McNulty has been a peripheral figure under his successor Phil Parkinson.

That has alerted Ross, who took over at Hibs in November, and he is exploring the possibility of a reunion with McNulty - although that could only happen if Sunderland and Reading agree to cut short their loan agreement, with the Black Cats only likely to give the go-ahead if they land their own attacking target Antoine Semenyo before tonight's deadline.

Ross said of McNulty: "He's amongst a number of players we've been trying explore how the strong the possibility is of getting him here.

"It's not a particularly easy window to do business in because there's a chain involved in a lot of these deals."

Sunderland have had a loan deal for Bristol City man Semenyo agreed since the beginning of the month, but that move was delayed until the Robins brought in a forward of their own.

And they completed the signing of Nakhi Wells from Burnley last night, clearing the way for Semenyo to join the Black Cats at some stage today and, potentially, for McNulty to be recalled by Reading ready to be loaned out once again.

McNulty has scored five goals in 16 games in all competitions for Sunderland but he last started a game in early December.

Sunderland currently have McNulty, Charlie Wyke, Will Grigg, Kyle Lafferty, Lynden Gooch, Chris Maguire, and Duncan Watmore vying for places in the attacking trio in the 3-4-3 system adopted by Parkinson - and Semenyo's arrival would only intensify that competition.

So it would be no surprise if both McNulty and Reading are looking at ways they can move him on to a club where he will play more first-team games.