Danny Batth missed out on Sunderland's pre-season double-header against South Shields and Gateshead due to injury, boss Tony Mowbray has confirmed. Centre-back Batth has been the subject of transfer speculation over the last week, with Championship rivals Blackburn Rovers said to be interested in the 32-year-old.
And while Mowbray could not rule out out of a move this summer, saying that Batth might not be guaranteed a regular place in the starting line-up if he stays, he did say that it played no part in his absence today - and insisted that he would be travelling with the squad next week for the Black Cats' pre-season trip to the USA. Batth missed the run-in last season after suffering a knee injury in April and he is still working his way back to full fitness.
"It's just a knock, he's coming with us to the US," said Mowbray. And asked directly about the transfer rumours surrounding the former Stoke City and Wolves man, he added: "We have to wait and see - it seems strange, doesn't it, to be talking about your player of the year last year leaving.
