Jack Baldwin discusses his uncertain future and reflects on Sunderland spell so far

Baldwin’s current deal expires on June 30, but there is the option of a one-year extension.

The 26-year-old has been on loan at Salford City this season having been told by Jack Ross that he was unlikely to play many first-team games this season.

After suffering a serious ankle injury in the first half of the season, Phil Parkinson opted not to bring him back in January, going on to sign Bailey Wright and then Tommy Smith following the former’s injury.

Baldwin made a successful return to the Salford side in the new year, playing regularly in central midfield.

The centre-back was discussing his career so far, as well as his charity work for The Free Kicks Foundation, on an Instagram Live with Premier League coach Tom Donati.

“It's unprecedented times for everybody,” he said.

“I think the League Two season is pretty much done and dusted, so Salford's season is pretty much done.

“I've got the option of a year left at Sunderland but I've not really had any conversations with them with regards to extending or not.

“I'm just kind in limbo at the moment really, waiting for the EFL to make their decisions.

“I'm looking forward to seeing the start date for next season really, because I think it's going to be a big year for me.”

Baldwin says he ‘loved’ his time at Sunderland, having been a regular under Ross before the 5-4 defeat to Coventry City last April.

He only made one competitive appearance after that, impressing in the 3-1 Carabao Cup win over Burnley last August.

Baldwin admits the defeat to Mark Robins’ side ‘still annoys him’.

“My season at Sunderland was a real mixed bag,” Baldwin said.

“I was making a step up, came into the side for the second game away at Luton and then I pretty much played the majority of the games up until the back end of the season.

“At that point, it was the most games I'd played in a season, for the biggest club I've played for, so it was a real good season overall, if you take away the last ten games or so.

“We played a home game against Coventry, and it still annoys me to think about it now, one of those days where everything that could go wrong, went wrong.

“The gaffer made five or six changes for the next game and that was literally the end of my time there.

“I wasn't getting on the bench leading into the play-offs, so I was just training without anything to look forward to really.

“I'd played in the Checkatrade final which was unbelievable, albeit we lost on penalties, but it was a big achievement for me to play at Wembley.

“I loved my time there, great club, great people, it just didn't finish the way I'd ideally have liked it to.”

Baldwin is one of 11 senior players whose contract expires next month, with three loanees also set to depart as it stands.