SAD MOMENT: Due to injury concerns, seven Sunderland stars will not be playing in the preseason, leaving two superstars to play again.

Sunderland could be set to lose Under 21 star Oli Bainbridge to League Two side Bradford City, as reported by journalist Alan Nixon.

The Black Cats youngster has impressed in their youth setup after coming through the ranks at the Academy of Light, but his first-team chances have been limited. The left-back, who penned a two-year deal with Sunderland last summer, has appeared just once in the senior squad as an unused substitute in their game against QPR in March.

That’s reportedly alerted the Bantams, who finished the season strongly under Graham Alexander. With six wins from seven, they briefly threatened to crash the play-off party, and that momentum is something they’ll hope to carry forward into the new season.

Loanee Tyreik Wright impressed on the left for Alexander’s outfit in the second half of the season, but he returns to Plymouth Argyle, leaving 22-year-old Lewis Richards without serious competition for the wide space.

Bainbridge seems to fit the bill – he was eyed by Premier League outfit Everton earlier in the season after being tipped to break into the Black Cats’ first team. However, with Leo Hjelde capable on the left and Sunderland still holding an option on Callum Styles, forst team chances seem limited. That means there could be a chance for the youngster to leave and seek senior football elsewhere.

Mike Dodds’ side finished 16th in the Championship despite troubling the top six earlier in the season. A disastrous spell under Michael Beale put paid to any aspirations of following Ipswich into the Premier League, but the path paved by the Tractor Boys proves that big clubs coming back from spells in the wilderness are capable of making the jump to the top flight, something their supporters will be keenly aware of.

Writer’s View

Bainbridge looks primed to step into senior football soon. He’s a powerful player who will be eager to prove himself on the senior stage. A loan move would seem likely, giving Sunderland the chance to have a look at him in senior situations.