Whitley gets contract extension

Midfielder Jeff Whitley has landed a 12 month contract extension at Sunderland.

A clause requested by Mick McCarthy in Whitley's existing contract provided for the extension if he played in a certain percentage of games for Sunderland - equal to 26 matches - and yesterday's 4-2 victory over Watford saw that happen.

Mick said "Players should earn their contracts, I read the other day about a player after a long-term deal at a club but without having really done as much as he could to justify it.

"There can be all sorts of stipulations in a contract and that particular one I put in and it's worked well because he's earned his contract."