Sunderland boss gives interesting update on Jordan Willis' injury comeback - & whether he could earn new deal

Tony Mowbray has not ruled out the possibility of handing Jordan Willis a new contract at Sunderland - but says he feels the best thing for the defender will probably be to try and restart his career elsewhere.
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Willis saw his previous contract expire in the summer but he has remained on Wearside to continue his recovery from two serious patellar tendon injuries.

The 28-year-old was comfortably one of Sunderland's best signings during the League One era but has not played any competitive football since February 2021 when he first suffered the injury in the early stages of a 2-1 defeat to Shrewsbury Town.

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Willis is closing in on a return to full fitness but as of yet has not reached the point where he can train with the first team or play in behind-closed-doors training games.

As such, Mowbray says there is no rush for any party to come to make a definitive decision on what comes next.

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However, his current gut feeling is that with Aji Alese and Dan Ballard returning from injury and the potential for further recruitment over the next transfers windows, Willis' best bet may well be to try and earn a deal somewhere he can realistically compete for regular football.

Willis will remain with the club until the new year at leats to try and get closer to full fitness.

Sunderland defender Jordan WillisSunderland defender Jordan Willis
Sunderland defender Jordan Willis
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"I have had that conversation with Jordan and the club," Mowbray said.

"I had Jordan at Coventry City where he played right back for me, he's big and strong and athletic and can play in central defence as well - particularly on the right of a back three.

"We haven't got to a definitive end point yet, my message to him was that he's got to get fit first and foremost, he hasn't trained with the first team yet. It's not a call that I or the club has to make at this point, he's been given another month until January to continue his rehab.

"At some stage he'll have to try and play a game where it's not controlled, and he's tackling and being tackled, all those things that come with a game of football.

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"I've intimated to him that in my opinion, he needs to get himself fit and find a club where he can play matches regularly without the pressure and competition [of Sunderland]. I think he needs a vehicle to show that he's fit and can play, and my suggestion was that his advisors should be sounding clubs out, to see if he can train and maybe play in bounce games etc. Then a club might be looking at the best free transfer they'll ever get.

"That's where I feel it's at. If he shows he is good as we know he is, then his career will come back and he'll climb the leagues."

Sunderland’s competition for places in defence has grown even stronger with Luke O’Nien’s excellent form at centre back and Bailey Wright’s return from a successful World Cup campaign with Australia.