Ironically, Pompey travel to the Stadium of Light this weekend, seeking their first League One victory of 2022.
However, ahead of the fixture, Cowley would not be drawn on the issue of Hume.
He told The News: ‘I think we are being linked with a lot of players from a lot of clubs.
‘I certainly won’t be talking about a player that plays in a team that we are coming up against on Saturday.
‘I don’t think that would be fair on Lee Johnson or Sunderland as a football club.
‘I am aware of him as a player, I have just spent 48 hours watching Sunderland, so he’s a player that we know.’
Presently Lee Brown and Reeco Hackett are battling it out for the role, with the head coach having reintroduced a back three at the end of November.
With Hackett sidelined by a foot injury for AFC Wimbledon, Brown returned to the team for the goalless Plough Lane draw.
However, Hackett is now pushing for a first-team return ahead of Saturday’s trek to Sunderland for league action.
The left-footed winger has started eight of the Blues’ last 10 matches in all competitions in the wing-back role after being converted this term.
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