GAVIN McCANN has finally banished doubts about his future with Sunderland by pledging himself to the club for the next four years.

The England international stunned manager Peter Reid last season when he submitted a transfer request which was subsequently rejected.

But yesterday the 24-year-old midfielder signed a new contract on enhanced terms, extending his existing deal by a year.

Lengthy talks bore fruit, but McCann insisted that at no stage did he really want to leave the Stadium of Light.

"I'm delighted to have signed my new contract and am fully committed to Sunderland,'' he said.

"I never wanted to leave the club and always hoped that a new contract could be sorted out.

"I'm looking forward to pre-season and seeing all the lads, and to the new Premiership season and helping the club achieve success."

Reid will be relieved to have secured McCann, who was signed from Everton for £500,000 in November 1998.

Blackpool-born McCann became a first-team regular in the following season, but was then sidelined for almost ten months with a cruciate injury.

But despite his shock transfer demand in December, he remained a virtual mainstay last term and Reid stressed: "Gavin McCann is a very important part of the team.

"He has done well for the club and his new contract is a reward for that.

"We have been negotiating with Gavin for some time and now that his new contact is agreed, I'm sure that he will go from strength to strength with Sunderland."

Meanwhile, Reid is continuing to monitor South Africa's £2m-rated World Cup striker Siyabonga Nomvete.

Italian side Udinese are ready to off-load the 24-year-old, who had a trial with Sunderland two years ago.

Reid, who has enquired about Leeds' Republic of Ireland star Robbie Keane, has a long-standing interest in Nomvete.

"The boy is someone I tried to sign after the last World Cup,'' said Reid. "We even brought him over for a trial and he did very well.''

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