MARTIN O’Neill expects to meet Sunderland owner Ellis Short next week to plan the club’s transfer strategy.

O’Neill took over on Wearside six weeks ago and, conscious of the reputation he acquired in his final season at Aston Villa as a big spender, has been at pains to point out he sought no guarantees over the size of his transfer budget before agreeing to take the Sunderland job.

Even now, halfway through the January transfer window, he has yet to sit down with London-based Short to discuss how much money is available to strengthen his squad during the January transfer window. But with the deadline a fortnight on Tuesday, O’Neill says the time has come to speak to Short and discover what resources are available.

O’Neill, whose side takes on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge this afternoon, said: “I have not had that talk with the owners yet and that is down to me.

“I gather he [Short] will be at the Chelsea game and I will be able to speak with the people who make the decisions soon.

“I hope I will get that chance to be able to see him on a business-like basis next week.

“I would like to think while there is an opportunity to do a few things I will look at it.

“Whether we will do is something completely different. We will see on February 1 what [players] we have and whatever we have we would like to think will carry us through until the end of the season.

“I have not had that much time to think about things. I will do that next week.”

O’Neill’s predecessor Steve Bruce had been keen to add a left winger and a striker to his squad this month.

However, the change of manager, the emergence of young Irish wide man James McClean and the imminent return from injury of frontman Fraizer Campbell may mean the club’s transfer priorities have now altered.

McClean (pictured) has impressed since he made his debut as a substitute in O’Neill’s first game in charge, against Blackburn last month, and the 22-year-old goes into today’s game at Chelsea having scored in his last two outings.

O’Neill added: “James’ form has helped enormously.

“He has the potential to make the position his own.

“I cannot think of anyone who has had that sort of impact. He made his full debut against Manchester City but then he delivered the way he did against Wigan 48 hours later. I was expecting him to tire but he was so strong.”

Campbell has been sidelined with knee ligament damage since August 2010 but scored in his comeback for the reserves this week and was in the squad which travelled to Chelsea, although he is unlikely to feature even on the bench.

O’Neill said: “Fraizer is travelling with us but we do not expect anything too much from him too quickly.

“If he is still fit and there has been no reaction by mid-February, great.

“Anything he does in the weeks before then would be a bonus.”

O’Neill has allowed a number of fringe players to leave Wearside on loan this week, with reserve goalkeeper Trevor Carson the latest to depart, having joined Championship Hull City on a month-long deal.

Defender Nyron Nosworthy and midfielder Liam Noble have joined Watford and Carlisle respectively on frees.

However, the Sunderland boss again denied any knowledge of rumours linking first-team regular Kieran Richardson with a move to Arsenal.

He said: “Arsenal have not contacted us at all. If there was genuine interest in buying the player then they would have to come to us at some stage.”