Sunderland boss Steve Bruce admits he's delighted with the rapid rise of Jordan Henderson this season.

The Sunderland-born player, who made his senior debut against Chelsea in November last year under Roy Keane, has emerged from the club's academy to stake his claim with a series of assured displays.

Bruce said: "If there's one player who really, really jumped out at me when I arrived three months ago, it was Jordan.

"He has been involved in nearly every game we have played this year. I like him as a boy. He has got a big, big future, so we had to reward him, when he was in the first team squad repeatedly, we simply had to reward him and tie him up.

"We are delighted he has signed a four and a half-year deal. He has got a big future."