FORMER Sunderland midfielder Gavin McCann could return to the Stadium of Light this summer after becoming frustrated with life in the Midlands.

The Aston Villa man still has a year left on his existing deal at Villa Park, but it is understood the former England international wants to move back up north.

Blackburn, Bolton and Wigan are three clubs to have been alerted to the situation and sources close to Villa claim Sunderland have made an inquiry since securing promotion to the Premiership.

McCann is set to be allowed to leave by manager Martin O'Neill this summer, despite the likelihood that he would have been offered a new contract by the Northern Irishman.

Blackpool-born, the 29-year-old would cost somewhere in the region of £1.5m, some £500,000 short of the fee that took him from Sunderland to Villa in July 2003.

He was David O'Leary's first signing at Villa Park but, despite starting this season positively, he has become frustrated after losing his place to youngster Craig Gardner.

Sunderland boss Roy Keane is determined to strengthen his squad with at least eight new faces and a lot of the players he is targeting must have plenty Premiership experience.

If Sunderland decide to step up their interest and make a formal bid, it is likely to spark interest from the other interested clubs nearer to his native North-West.

Both Blackburn and Bolton have been keeping a close eye on the situation, while new Wigan boss Chris Hutchings also knows the need to bolster his squad was hammered home after the Latics narrowly avoided relegation on the final day.

But Sunderland, a club that remains close to McCann's heart and owned by a former team-mate in chairman Niall Quinn, would be in as strong a position as anyone if they were to take their interest to the next level.

Keane is also known to be interested in freed Middlesbrough full-back Stuart Parnaby and West Brom's Paul McShane.

* Sunderland goalkeeper Marton Fulop has been named in the Hungary squad for their Euro 2008 qualifiers with Greece, on June 2, and Norway, June 6.