Leeds United sign Sunderland midfielder Liam Bridcutt on loan in Steve Evans' first transfer

Leeds United have signed Sunderland midfielder Liam Bridcutt on loan with winger Will Buckley returning to the Stadium of Light, the Championship club have confirmed.

Bridcutt becomes Steve Evans' first signing since taking over at Elland Road in October and will remain at the club until the beginning of January. The 26-year-old was brought to Sunderland by Gus Poyet in January 2014 but is not thought to be part of Sam Allardyce's plans on Wearside.

"I've been speaking to the manager and he's given me a great opportunity to come and play for a brilliant club," Bridcutt told Leeds' official website. "It's been on and off for the last few weeks now. I've had a few other options, but from speaking to the manager he's given me the confidence to come here and show what I can do.

"When the manager shows so much interest in you and puts so much faith in you, you always want to repay that with your performances. That is one of the main reasons why I have come here. He's given me a good opportunity to come and play and hopefully I can do that."

Buckley, meanwhile, joined Leeds at the beginning of October. He was brought to Elland Road by former manager Uwe Rosler but has been unable to impose himself on the first team under the new man in charge, making just four appearances for the club in all, three of those from the bench.

Evans said at the end of October he is hopeful of adding "five or six" players to his squad by the time the January transfer window closes.

Norwich City striker Kyle Lafferty has been heavily linked with a move to the Yorkshire club having fallen out of favour with Canaries gaffer Alex Neil.

Lafferty is known to be keen to secure more first-team football for himself ahead of Northern Ireland's first ever European Championship campaign next summer, but Neil warned last week no more players will allowed to leave Carrow Road.

"Nobody else will be leaving on loan or otherwise until January, and then we can assess the situation," said Neil. "We've got a lot of games coming up that are important. I'm happy with the size of squad I've got at the moment."