Keane says Stead can leave

SUNDERLAND have given Jon Stead permission to speak with other clubs about a loan move away from the Stadium of Light.

The 23-year-old was a £1.8million (€2.6m) signing from Blackburn last year, however he has scored just twice in 40 appearances.

The arrivals of Dwight Yorke and David Connolly on transfer deadline day pushed him further down the pecking order.