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Reece James casts doubt on his Sunderland future

Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images
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Reece James has been a regular in League One since joining Jack Ross’s Sunderland from Wigan Athletic last year.

Reece James of Sunderland has a shot during the Sky Bet League One match between Sunderland and Wycombe Wanderers at Stadium of Light on November 17, 2018 in Sunderland, United Kingdom.

Reece James has cast doubt on his future at Sunderland by admitting that he is yet to hold talks about a new contract, according to the Chronicle.

The full-back moved to the Stadium of Light from Wigan Athletic last summer, the Wearside giants handing him only a 12-month deal perhaps due to the fact that much of his time at the DW had been affected by injury.

But James has largely put those fitness problems behind him at Sunderland, making 34 appearances in all competitions to establish himself as Jack Ross’s first-choice left-back ahead of Denver Hume and Costa Rican international Bryan Oviedo.

It is anyone’s guess whether the one-time Manchester United youngster will still be a Sunderland player next season, however. His contract runs out in July and James himself appears no closer to finding out whether he will be kept on.

“I think at the moment not really,” the 25-year-old said when asked if he’d held talks over a new deal.

Reece James of Sunderland (L) challenges Josh Ruffles of Oxford during the Sky Bet League One match Sunderland and Oxford United at Stadium of Light on September 1, 2018 in Sunderland,...

“The main thing is we get through to the end of the season and concentrate on that, and that’s where my focus is at the moment. Anything after that will be a bonus so we need to make sure we go up.”

You can certainly understand why Sunderland would put contract talks to one side given that their promotion hopes are on the line heading into the final few weeks of the season.

But James has just five games left to prove that he deserves an extended deal at the Stadium of Light.

Reece James of Sunderland during the Carabao Cup First Round between Sunderland and Sheffield Wednesday at Stadium of Light on August 16, 2018 in Sunderland, United Kingdom.