Leadbitter handed new Sunderland deal
2:50pm Friday 27th June 2008
GRANT LEADBITTER has signed a new contract that ensures he is tied to Sunderland until the summer of 2011 at least.
The locally produced midfielder, from nearby Fencehouses, has signed a three-year deal after impressing manager Roy Keane with his attitude in his first two years on Wearside.
Leadbitter, an England Under-21 international, said: "I'm happy at the club and I want to help drive it forward next season, I want to kick on."
And Keane, who has made little progress in his attempts to make additions to his squad, said: "Grant's done a good job since I came to the club. He's got quality and he's enthusiastic - a good character. He's maturing well."