Sunderland have been handed encouragement in their bid to sign reported winger target Adam Johnson from Middlesbrough. England Under-21 international Johnson is out of contract in the summer and could be set for a mid-season switch away from the Riverside, with new boss Gordon Strachan refusing to rule out a deal. He said: “We will have to wait and see what happens in January, see where we are, see how we are playing. "Circumstances can change in a couple of months, we are not making any promises to anyone." Johnson has finally been handed a chance in the side following relegation to the Championship and the departure of England international Stewart Downing to Aston Villa. The 22-year-old has scored nine goals so far this term and his form is said to have alerted Black Cats boss Steve Bruce, who is set to have money to spend in the next transfer window. However, Johnson could elect to sit tight if Boro are challenging for promotion back to the Premier League rather than jump ship to the Stadium of Light.