Black Cats signal interest in Bridges

Striker Michael Bridges could be handed a lifeline by the club with which he launched his career.

First Division Sunderland have emerged as one of the contenders to sign the 25-year-old, who is available on a free transfer, after it became clear he is unlikely to be offered a permanent deal by Newcastle.

Bridges spent the second-half of last season on loan at St James’ Park from Leeds but was unable to force his way into the first-team, making just one start.

Black Cats boss Mick McCarthy has now made his interest in the player clear and will hope the chance to re-launch his career with the club at which he made his name as a teenager will prove attractive, despite having to drop down a division.

Bridges, who was discovered by Jack Hixon, the man who brought the talents of a schoolboy Alan Shearer to light, looked to have the world at his feet when, after stepping out of the shadow of first-choice Sunderland striker-partnership Kevin Phillips and Niall Quinn, he won a £5m (€7.5m) move to Elland Road in July 1999.

But injuries have played a depressing part in his career since, and having fallen by the wayside as Leeds lurched into financial meltdown, he was offered an opportunity to prove himself once again at Newcastle, the club he supported as a boy.

However, with the dream of winning a permanent contract at St James’ looking to have gone – although he has not yet been told that formally – his salvation appears to lie elsewhere.

Southampton, Bolton and Fulham are all said to be keeping tabs on Bridges, as are relegated Leicester, but Sunderland is close to home and holds fond memories for the player and that could prove decisive.