Notts County have combated early January headache with Sunderland AFC deal | OneFootball

Notts moved quickly to add a centre-half, after several injuries in the backline.

Notts County moved quickly this week to secure the services of Sunderland AFC defender Zak Johnson on a loan deal until the end of the season.

Recent injuries to Lucas Ness and Lewis Macari, who were both enjoying impressive seasons, left the Magpies short of depth on the right side of their back three. But as ever, the Notts board have reacted quickly and sensibly to cover what was becoming a problem area of the squad.

Tuesday’s news that Dan Crowley had left the club to join promotion rivals MK Dons was a big blow, but nevertheless, Notts have had a promising start to the January window, once again focusing on young players who have the potential to improve greatly in the future.

The 20-year-old Johnson joins Will Jarvis (22) and Charlie Whitaker (21) as one of three new faces through the door at Meadow Lane already.

Johnson’s signing covers a problem area for Notts

Centre-back was probably the last position Notts would have been expecting to target in the weeks and months leading up to the January transfer window.

The Magpies' defence has been vastly improved this season, and they are currently conceding at a rate of just 1.1 goals per game, compared to a rate of 1.9 last term.

Their tally of 26 goals conceded gives them the division’s sixth-best defensive record.

Matty Platt has started all but one of Notts’ 24 league games, while Jacob Bedeau has failed to start in just two. Macari has continued to impress despite his young age, while Lucas Ness’ return to action in November had added another high quality option.

Such is the success of those four, that they had rendered Rod McDonald and Robbie Cundy, two very capable centre-halves at League Two level, as merely back-up options.

That was until last week, however, when news broke that Ness is likely to be sidelined until the end of the season, while Macari is also out for the foreseeable future.

That suddenly made a right-sided centre-half an immediate priority for Notts.

Rod McDonald has done a steady job on the right of Notts’ back three in the last couple of games, but having a left-footed player on that side has really disrupted the Magpies’ balance when playing out from the back.

Hence why Johnson could be such a valuable signing for Notts.

This will be the Black Cats prospect’s third loan spell, having been out to National League side Hartlepool United and Dundalk of the League of Ireland in the last 18 months.

He’s gone on to make two senior appearances for Regis Le Bris’ Sunderland this season, most recently last Saturday, when he came off the bench to play 61 minutes in the FA Cup.

Sunderland’s academy is flourishing at the minute and Johnson is another who is held in high regard at the Stadium of Light. His loan signing could prove to be a very shrewd piece of business by Notts.

Notts likely still need more additions

Notts’ potential targets in the January window will have changed a lot in recent weeks.

News of the injuries to Ness and Macari also came alongside the update that Scott Robertson will also miss the remainder of the season.

The imminent return of Curtis Edwards (pictured) will cover his absence somewhat, but Notts could still be tempted to dip into the market for a central midfielder, something which seems almost unbelievable given the depth they had in that position at the start of the season.

It also remains to be seen whether Jarvis and Whitaker are prospective replacements for Crowley, or whether an addition in the attacking midfield role is yet to come.

With these new issues coming to light over the last couple of weeks, it’s easy to forget that the Magpies’ initial aims for the window were likely a striker and another wing-back option.

Neither of those areas have been addressed yet and it wouldn’t be at all surprising to see more incomings in those position as January wears on.

Notts will be extremely conscious of their level of squad depth as the League Two season nears it’s close. The last thing they will want is to miss an opportunity to pad out their squad with another couple of capable players and then have it bite them later down the line.

Promotion isn’t the be all and end all this season, but having put themselves in a great position just after the halfway mark, Notts will be keen to ensure their good work doesn’t go to waste.