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Why Sunderland are extending Romaine Mundle's contract and the Régis Le Bris verdict worth remembering Sunderland are close to handing winger Romaine Mundle a new contract at the club News of a likely new contract for Romaine Mundle undoubtedly came initially as something of a surprise, though perhaps on reflection it ought not to have done. Undoubtedly, Mundle faces fierce competition for his place on the left flank this season with Chemsdine Talbi and Nilson Angulo already in the squad. That he had entered the last two years of his contract and had been linked with a move away in January added to the potential sense of inevitability regarding a summer exit. What has always been clear, however, is that Mundle has the absolute backing of his head coach. Though he was won praise and respect for his calm and mild-mannered approach since arriving on Wearside, a key part of the success Régis Le Bris has enjoyed has been down to his ruthless streak. If he does not see a player as part of his plans, they tend to move on pretty quickly. With Mundle, however, he has backed him every single step of the way. Firstly in backing him completely to fill the void left by Jack Clarke, and then in again in the play-off campaign when he was still recovering from his first injury issues. Then, and most relevant to this discussion, when he suffered another significant hamstring injury in the pre-season that followed. Teams were interested in a January move as Mundle returned to fitness but Le Bris wasn't having it, and instead gave the winger his first Premier League opportunities. After a promising performance in the 1-0 win over Crystal Palace, Le Bris backed in Mundle with a conviction that reflects just how highly he rates him. "He's stepping up in this Premier League, his first season at this level,” Le Bris said. "He needed time after injury to build his fitness level and confidence. He came off the bench three or four times, I think, before his first start in the FA Cup. He showed his quality as a winger, his ability to dribble, to combine with his teammates, and going behind to cross or to shoot. He has this quality. Now it's a question of potential. You have to transform it into reality. I think he did well today. We still have room for improvement, but he's a young lad with great potential, so we trust him.” Another hamstring injury would bring an abrupt end to his campaign, but it is notable that though the discussion around a new contract had first been broached earlier in the season there were no significant developments at that time amid those ongoing hamstring issues. Mundle missed the 2-0 win over RC Lens last weekend with a minor ankle knock but has otherwise been ever present through pre-season and the timing of this new deal would suggest Sunderland are happy with his physical progress. The Echo has launched a new WhatsApp SAFC Channel to bring the latest news, analysis and team & injury updates direct to your phone. Simply click this link to join our SAFC WhatsApp channel. Mundle is a homegrown player, so adds very welcome depth for the club's three cup competitions. Whether he can force his way into the starting XI on a regular basis remains to be seen, but with Talbi and Angulo it is not as if he will be required to play 90 minutes week in, week out. The club still clearly need to sign a new right winger for the season ahead, but keeping Mundle is a move with little risk and if Le Bris's conviction is rewarded, high upside in a long season. As Le Bris alluded to in this post-match comments back in January, at this stage we simply don't know if Mundle can turn that potential into Premier League output. Sunderland's view seems to be that at this stage, it's too soon to rule it out.