Elliot Embleton has been pictured in training on the first day of Sunderland's pre-season, the biggest indication yet that he will be staying at the club.
The Black Cats players reconvened at the Academy of Light on Tuesday for the start of pre-season, but there was uncertainty over whether England youth international Embleton would be there.
The 20-year-old academy graduate was officially out of contract on Monday, although the club confirmed in their retained list they had offered him a new deal.
But Embleton, who excelled on loan at League Two side Grimsby Town last season, took his time over making a decision on his future as he wanted assurances that he would get first team opportunities in the upcoming campaign.
And while the club are yet to officially announce he's signed a new deal, the fact he was among the training at the Academy of Light on day one is a good sign that he most probably has committed to the Wearside club.
If so, the news will delight Black Cats supporters, with Embleton one of the brightest players to emerge from their esteemed academy in recent years.
Capped nine times by England's U20s, he was part of the exciting Three Lions squad that won the 2018 U19s European Championships. Jack Ross is known to rate him highly, and he will have done his chances at Sunderland no harm last season when he scored four goals and assisted as many in an impressive spell at Grimsby.
