Former Sunderland man Ethan Robson is gaining plenty of interest after his contract came to an end at the Stadium of Light.

With the 2019/20 season abruptly ended for the Black Cats, a large number of first team players saw their contracts expire. Joining the likes of Jon McLaughlin and Tom Flanagan in running down their contracts was Robson, who joined the Wearsiders back in 2004 as a youngster.

Allowed to leave the club this summer, the 23-year-old midfielder ends a 16-year stint at the Stadium of Light in which he made a total of 14 first team appearances and 62 for the club's under-23 side.

Spending part of the 2019/20 season on loan with League Two side Grimsby Town, Robson is now said to be gaining interest from a number of Sunderland's League One rivals.

As per the Sunderland Echo, the 23-year-old has said upon his release earlier this week: “I’ve had a lot of interest. I think the big thing is going to be the restart date. When there’s officially a restart date I think there’ll be a lot more offers around.

“I’ve had some which is good, there are options. I’ve had interest from League One and League Two, and there are some teams in the Scottish Premier League who are interested.  It’s definitely exciting times. I want to cement my place in a team next season and push on.”

It seems mystifying that, having come all the way through the academy ranks to make the first team, Sunderland would not seek to keep Robson on board.

It is completely baffling that the club would not be willing to hand him a shot at first team football at the Stadium of Light, especially when Phil Parkinson is hastily trying to assemble a squad to finally get out of League One next season.

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