WINGER MIGHT RETURN FROM INJURY IN BID FOR NEW DEAL

BERTRAND Traore could return to the Sunderland squad for the club's final Premier League game against Chelsea, on Sunday.

- CLIVE YOULTON

Sunderland's Bertrand Traore has been out with an injury since March

(OWEN HUMPHREYS/ PA WIRE)

The 30-year-old was an influential figure in Regis Le Bris' side in the first half of the season but has played just 23 minutes of Premier League football since mid-December.

Le Bris has a big call to make with the winger as to whether to keep him at the Stadium of Light.

Traore's one-year contract expires this summer but Sunderland have the option of triggering a 12-month extension.

He picked up a knee injury while away at the African Cup of Nations and then suffered a recurrence late on in the March win at Leeds, which came just a week after his return, from the bench in the draw at Bournemouth.

Traore resumed training earlier this month and has been available for the last couple of games but has been left out of the squad by Le Bris.