Former Premier League star REFUSES to play for Sunderland and withdraws from squad barely an hour before kick-off

SUNDERLAND midfielder Alex Pritchard went on strike on Friday to demand a move from the troubled club.

The popular playmaker, out of contract in the summer, is now expected to be reunited with former Mackem boss Tony Mowbray at Birmingham City.

Pritchard, 30, wanted a new two-year contract with the Black Cats but was only offered one more season after this campaign.

Pritchard has a longer offer abroad and could also get the same length from the Blues.

The experienced star was happy to stay at Sunderland after getting back into the side but the one-year extension is less than he can get elsewhere.

It is also ironic as Sunderland told Pritchard he would not get ANY deal last summer when he was told they were planning on cutting the age of the squad.

Former Tottenham youth player Pritchard asked to be left out of the Championship clash with Stoke at the Stadium of Light after declaring himself unavailable for selection on Friday morning.

Sunderland stunned fans when they issued a statement just hours before the game which read: "On Friday morning, Alex Pritchard informed the club that he was no longer available for selection and he subsequently withdrew from today’s match day squad.

"The midfielder also expressed his desire to leave SAFC with immediate effect. The club will be making no further comment at this moment in time."

Pritchard's career kicked off in 2011 when he was called up by Tottenham following three years in the youth ranks at White Hart Lane.

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However, the playmaker only managed two appearances during his five-year spell at Spurs that saw him being loaned out to Peterborough, Swindon, Brentford and West Brom.

The ex-England youth international then moved to Norwich in 2016 and Huddersfield two years later.

In 2021 he signed with Sunderland where he has amassed a total of nine goals and 25 assists in 115 appearances.