TONY MOWBRAY expects Alex Pritchard to leave Sunderland this month, with the attacking-midfielder unlikely to return to the starting line-up until his future his resolved.

Like Danny Batth and Lynden Gooch, who have also been linked with possible moves away from the Stadium of Light, Pritchard has entered the final year of his current contract on Wearside.

Having turned 30 in May, he does not fit the age profile that the Sunderland hierarchy are looking to develop for their squad, so even though he played an extremely influential role in the club’s rise from League One and successful stabilisation in the Championship, he is unlikely to be offered a new deal.

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Mowbray has already confirmed he will not stand in Pritchard’s way if he opts to leave the Stadium of Light in order to secure a long-term deal elsewhere, and while there has not yet been a formal offer, the Black Cats head coach expects one of his side’s few remaining senior professionals to leave before the transfer window closes.

As a result, while Pritchard has made effective substitute appearances in each of Sunderland’s opening two league matches against Ipswich Town and Preston, he is unlikely to be restored to the starting line-up for tomorrow’s home game with Rotherham United.

“I like Pritch,” said Mowbray, whose side will attempt to secure a first win of the season when they line up against the Millers. “Pritch is a good player.

“I don’t want to get too prescriptive about it, but it looks like Pritch is going to leave the football club. We have to move past that, we have to move on – that’s football.

“Every footballer understands it is a transient game. I got a testimonial at Middlesbrough – I was there 12 years – but that’s very, very rare in modern-day football. Footballers come and then they move on, and supporters understand that.

“Alex’s situation is a little bit more complicated than I can discuss openly. He’s a good football player, but there is a fair percentage (likelihood) that he will leave the football club in the next few weeks. If he doesn’t, then we can have more discussions after the window shuts.”