Sunderland defender Niall Huggins has signed a contract extension to keep him at the Stadium of Light until 2026.
There is also a club option of a further year included in the deal.
Huggins, 23, joined Sunderland from Leeds United in 2021 and has made 28 appearances, scoring one goal.
But he has not played since December 2023 as he recovers from a "significant" knee injury.
"It's been a tough year for me, so I appreciate the club backing me and seeing my potential," he told the club's website., external
Huggins had become a first-team regular in the first half of last season after managing only four appearances apiece in two injury-hit campaigns before that.