Bryan Oviedo still has a part to play in Sunderland’s season as they push for an immediate return to the Championship.

Jack Ross told the Northern Echo that the Costa Rica international can still be a big player for the club between now and the end of the season.

It was widely expected the left-back would leave the Stadium of Light in the January transfer window, but he is still very much a Sunderland player.

The 28-year-old was due to move to West Brom on a season-long loan, but finances derailed that move when the two clubs could not come to an agreement.

Oviedo was at the Hawthorns on deadline day, but there was no happy ending to a potential move to the Midlands.

And since his collapsed move, the Costa Rica international suffered a calf injury and has returned to full training at the Academy of Light.

With Oviedo remaining at the club for the foreseeable future, we asked our team of FLW writers their thoughts on the situation and if the defender has a future at Sunderland.

Here’s what they had to say on the matter.

Gary Hutchinson

“He does because Ross doesn’t freeze people out.

“He’s a decent player, and all it takes is an injury to Reece James, and he’s back in.

“When the summer comes though, he’ll be gone, whatever league they’re in.”

George Harbey

“It’s a tough one.

“His head was always going to be turned after his move to West Brom collapsed in January.

“It'd be best for him and the club if he left.”

Jay Taylor

“He’s one of Sunderland’s big earners from their Premier League days, so I understand a need to see him leave the club.

“But having seen a deadline day move fall through, there shouldn’t be any animosity towards the defender who is arguably the best left-back in the league.

“If you have a player of his calibre to call upon, then utilise it to the max – so I think he has a part to play between now and the end of the season before he is inevitably sold.”