Sunderland boss Jack Ross has praised midfielder Lee Cattermole for his "rare" commitment to the club and said he is pleased that the 31-year-old left has left in a positive light.

Cattermole departed this summer after 10 years with the North East club, during which time he made 262 appearances.

The hard-tackling midfielder joined from Wigan in 2009 and has represented Sunderland in League One, the Championship, and the Premier League.

The Englishman left the club following the expiration of his contract and, speaking to safc.com, Ross said he deserves credit for his dedication to the Black Cats.

He said: "First of all, he deserves to be remembered fondly.

“It’s not often a player spends that length of time at a club, it’s very rare in the modern era.

“He’ll have seen a lot in that time, a lot of different challenges that he’ll have had to meet in that time. He’s been part of different teams.

“I think we developed a good relationship very quickly, I think he bought into how we worked and responded to it, I think he enjoyed the relationship with me and my staff.

“I’d like to think that was reflected in his performances last season and his contribution off the park.

“I’m pleased that his time at the club to an end in a positive light if you like, in terms of how people remember him. He goes with my very best wishes.

"It’s obvious to say that as a club we’re still in that transition period and that’s probably just another example of it."

The Verdict

Cattermole has been an excellent player for Sunderland and while this move will have been unpopular with some fans his exit is a positive step forward by Ross.

The Englishman was a useful option in the 2018/19 campaign, making 36 appearances, and the Black Cats may miss his experience next season.

However, given the young central midfielders Ross has at his disposal, such as George Honeyman and Max Power, it makes sense that the 31-year-old is leaving the club.

It is a shame that Cattermole's last appearance for the club was in the last-minute League One play-off final defeat but the midfielder deserves full praise for his service to the club.