NIALL Huggins has been rewarded for his "first class response" to his devastating injury setback at the end of last year with Sunderland handing the full-back a new contract.

Huggins required surgery on what was described as a "significant knee injury" suffered in the home defeat to Coventry last December.

It was a sickening blow for the talented defender, who looked to have put two years of injury hell behind him and had been one of Sunderland's best and most consistent performers in the first half of last season.

With Huggins' contract having been due to expire next summer, the 23-year-old's future was uncertain.

But Sunderland still have high hopes for the full-back moving forward and have now extended Huggins' contract until 2026, with an option of a further year also included.

Huggins said: “It's been a tough year for me, so I appreciate the club backing me and seeing my potential. I'm delighted to sign this contract and I’m grateful for the continued support I receive from my team-mates, the staff, and the supporters.

"My focus now is to keep working as hard as I can to ensure that I get back to the level I know I'm capable of.”

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Sporting director Kristjaan Speakman said: “Niall experienced a significant injury just as he had established himself in the team but despite this disappointment, his response has been first class. 

"He continues to work extremely hard to put himself in a positive position as he continues his rehabilitation. This extension removes any ambiguity over his status next summer and allows our focus to be on supporting him over the coming weeks and months.”

Huggins moved to the Stadium of Light from Leeds United in 2021 but was limited to just two starts in his first two seasons at the club. He was initially ruled out with a stress fracture in his back and then a string of knock-on injuries as he tried to work his way back to fitness.

He opened up on his injury struggles in an honest interview at the end of last year, saying: “The last two years have been horrendous, awful to be honest."

Asked if he felt his career was at risk at the time, Huggins said: “Yes, 100 per cent. It got to the point where every time I was doing the rehab, the first few steps back on the grass, it was always there in the back of my mind."