Sunderland are having a great time in League One having suffered two humiliating relegations over the last two seasons. 

They currently sit second in the third tier table with just Portsmouth above them and look set for an immediate return to the Championship.

Jack Ross has done a terrific job since arriving in the summer and has benefited from the mood set by Stewart Donald's takeover.

Positivity is rife at the north-east club which has not been the case for a very, very long time.

And that is largely down to Ross and his side who now look like a real force. They have a slick attacking unit and a rigid defensive one, leaving no surprise they have the best goal difference in the division.

But the contract situation of one of their star men hangs ominously over them, threatening to ruin their season.

That is, of course, Josh Maja.

The 19-year-old has been in tremendous form this season, bagging ten League One goals already and becoming one of the countries hottest properties.

With his contract set to run out at the end of the season, the club must act quickly in order to prevent a January exit.

There has been a worrying silence around the club with regards to progress on the deal and it has the potential to derail all the club's good work if it goes wrong.

A lot is made of not giving in to player's demands with regards to contracts, but Maja and his team hold all the cards here.

If he is not offered an adequate new deal, a Championship club will offer him one.

Jerome Sinclair has shown promise but does not have the same instinct and eye for goal as Maja.

Sunderland, therefore, simply must splash out on his new contract. At 19 he could be the man to fire the club all the way back into the Premier League.

Thoughts, Sunderland fans? Let us know in the comments below.

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