Sunderland should look to their past to make the most of their future.

Former Mackem Ross Wallace has been released by Sheffield Wednesday, as Owls boss Jos Luhukay sought to lower the age of his squad.

However, Sunderland are not in a position to be so picky.

For them, signing the 33-year-old could prove a canny piece of business.

Despite Luhukay’s concerns over Wallace’s age, the winger managed to have an admirable impact over the season. His 24 starts produced two assists and two goals, including a winning goal against Brentford.

It was not the rich rewards that he had reaped from previous seasons, but this is understandable given his decreased playing time.

Wallace’s previous two year spell at the Stadium of Light was a particularly pleasant one. He scored six goals to guide the Black Cats to Premier League promotion, before featuring prominently with them in the top flight including goals against Reading and Arsenal.

However, Wallace offers more than a romantic blast from the past. With over 400 league appearances, he is an experienced campaigner who is still capable of performing across an entire season.

Playing in League One will be a step down for the Scotsman.

Such moves are to be expected at this stage of his career. However, there is no reason why he should not be able to enjoy one last hurrah. He could well strive to secure promotion for Sunderland once more.