Northern Ireland defender Dan Ballard has penned a new deal at Sunderland to extend his stay on Wearside until the summer of 2029.
The 26-year-old joined Sunderland from Arsenal back in June 2022 and has been rewarded by the Black Cats, who also have an option on his services for another year, for his outstanding form in his debut season in the Premier League.
"I’m absolutely delighted to have signed a new contract," he told the club website. “From the moment we began talks, it felt like an easy decision, and I’m happy to be extending my time at the club.
“Achieving promotion last was incredible, and I feel very fortunate to have played a part in some special moments in the club’s recent history.
“My aim this season was to stay in the team, compete every day, and keep working hard to contribute. Hopefully I can continue improving and help drive the club forward for many years to come.”
Meanwhile, in League One at the weekend, Caolan Boyd-Munce scored a stunning goal to set Wycombe Wanderers on their way to a comfortable 3-0 home success over Burton Albion.
Speaking to Wanderers TV after the game, he said: “I can’t even remember the goal, I haven’t seen it yet, so I don’t even know what it was like!”
“We’re always talking about one bit of quality to get us going, and today we needed that, and today it was lucky it was me, so it was good to get us off the mark and calm us down a little bit.”
Striker Shayne Lavery came off the bench to score his fifth goal of the campaign as Cambridge United drew 1-1 at home against League Two promotion rivals MK Dons, while midfielder Callum Burnside found the net inside the first minute as Alloa Athletic beat East Fife 2-0 at home in League One in Scotland.
In the Premier League Trai Hume and Dan Ballard both played the full 90 minutes in Sunderland’s 1-1 draw at AFC Bournemouth, and Justin Devenny was again an unused substitute as 10-man Crystal Palace went down 2-1 to Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Oxford United duo Brodie Spencer and Jamie McDonnell both missed the 2-1 victory over struggling West Brom. However, Ciaron Brown and Jamie Donley did start the Championship contest against the Baggies, with the latter registering an assist for United’s opener.
Elsewhere in the Championship there were starts for Ruairi McConville (Norwich City), Terry Devlin (Portsmouth), Shea Charles (Southampton), Ali McCann (Preston), Isaac Price (West Brom) and Ethan Galbraith (Swansea City).
After joining Havant & Waterlooville on loan from Ipswich Town in midweek, striker Rio Oudnie-Morgan made his debut as a substitute as the Southern Premier League side lost 3-0 at Uxbridge.
There was also a first outing for Northern Ireland U21 midfielder Francis Turley, who played the final two minutes as a substitute in Ayr United’s 3-1 Scottish Championship defeat to St Johnstone following his loan move from Celtic.
Nineteen-year-old Kieran Morrison took his goal tally for Liverpool’s U21 side this term to 12 when he hit a brace in the 4-2 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the U21 Premier League at the weekend.
Finally, in the U18 Premier League, Fermanagh-born Sean Corry scored for Derby County in their 3-1 success against Manchester City and U17 international striker Sid Eldred found the net for Ipswich Town who lost 2-1 at home to Spurs.
