Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill says John Egan is making good progress.

The Republic of Ireland U21 defender is recovering from a broken leg suffered on-loan at Bradford City.

"John is progressing," he said.

"He's going well. It'll be pre-season before we see him back again but we'll want to extend his contract anyway, if that's the case just to give him every chance and to show we're behind him, as it were. It's been devastating for him. He went down there (to Bradford), he had the choice of two or three clubs, he's going fine in the games, the reports have been decent and then suddenly he gets injured. And look at what happened to them.

"He's had a tough time. His father died not long ago so it's been a pretty tough year for him. If heart and desire are anything to go he will cake-walk it (his career) - we'll just see how he comes back from this now."