Sunderland captain Lee Cattermole signs new contract

Sunderland captain Lee Cattermole (GETTY IMAGES)

Sunderland captain Lee Cattermole has committed his future to the Black Cats.

The Wearsiders confirmed the 24-year-old, who was out of contract at the end of the season, has signed a new deal which ties him to the club until 2016.

The midfielder joined Sunderland from Wigan in 2009, having started his career at Middlesbrough.

Cattermole was named Sunderland captain at the start of the 2010/11 Barclays Premier League season, but he has had an atrocious disciplinary record at the club.

He has been sent off five times since moving to Wearside to take his career total of red cards to seven, one more than his number of career goals.

His no-nonsense style is admired by Black Cats boss Martin O'Neill, though.

Cattermole said: "I'm absolutely delighted. It feels like it's taken a bit of time but the gaffer made it clear to me at the end of the season that he wanted to keep me at the club so it took a bit of time but I'm glad it's been sorted in the end.

"If you look at our signings in the summer I think you can see that we have made some big signings and I think it's the best place for me at the minute."

PA