League One transfer gossip: Sunderland defender rejected January transfer to rivals Sheffield Wednesday

The 31-year-old centre-back hasn’t featured under Alex Neil after damaging his ankle in last month’s 2-1 defeat at Cheltenham.

Batth, who joined Sunderland from Stoke in January, has returned to training, though, and played 90 minutes for the Black Cats’ under-23 side against Burnley last week.

But the defender is said to have rejected a move to Sheffield Wednesday in January before joining Sunderland, according to Yorkshire Live.

They claim that Batth was close to re-signing for the Owls, who he played for on loan in 2011. but opted against the move in favour of working with Lee Johnson.

However, Johnson was sacked just days before the window closed and was replaced as head coach by Alex Neil two weeks later.

Since then, Batth has struggled with injuries.

“It just seems to have dragged on and I’ve tried to come back a few times,” Batth told The Echo regarding his fitness issues.

“It's been a niggly injury so we’ve kind of had to let it build up and obviously I’ve been working hard off the pitch in the gym and physically.

“The injury was pretty unfortunate, it was in a blocked tackle. I’ve won the ball and the guy has put all his weight into my ankle.

“There was no massive damage on the scan, it has just been niggling and niggling so hopefully that’s behind me now and I can crack on.

“I’ve just been using the international break to get up to speed.”

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