TONY MOWBRAY is surprised there was not more interest in Alex Pritchard ahead of last week’s transfer deadline – but is delighted the midfielder is still part of his Sunderland squad.

While Danny Batth and Lynden Gooch both left the Stadium of Light, having entered the final year of their contract with the Black Cats, Pritchard remained despite also having just nine months of his own deal to run.

The 30-year-old is unlikely to be offered a new deal on Wearside, and had therefore been expected to head elsewhere, but despite a number of inquiries, Sunderland did not receive an acceptable formal offer for the midfielder.

As a result, Pritchard remains on the Black Cats’ books, and confirmed his enduring ability as he came off the bench for the final half-hour of Saturday’s five-goal thrashing of Southampton.

“We will have chats with Alex,” said Mowbray, whose side climbed into a top-ten spot thanks to their weekend exploits. “We have lots of chats already, to be honest.

“What a good footballer he is. I’m just amazed the phone didn’t ring as much as it might have done because he’s a wonderful footballer.

“Pritch is quality. You see with your eyes what I see with my eyes. He gets the ball, he sticks it through someone's legs and hits a 40-yard diagonal ball and we're off and through on goal. Not every player can do that.

“We have to get that balance right of how the team looks. We have to try and maximise his time on the pitch, but also grow the young players.”

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Pritchard is one of a number of attacking midfield players who will be hoping to secure as much game time as possible in the next few months.

Jack Clarke remains a key component of the first-team squad after the Sunderland hierarchy turned down a number of offers from Burnley, with Patrick Roberts also still a Black Cat despite strong late interest in the window from Southampton.

Abdoullah Ba impressed as he made his second league start of the season at the weekend, Bradley Dack scored his first goal as a Sunderland player against the Saints and Jobe Bellingham has caught the eye repeatedly after making a summer move from Birmingham City.

“Where’s Pritch going to play,” mused Mowbray. “Is he going to play behind the striker? Well, we might play two strikers, we might play three strikers, we might need only two sitting midfielders.

“I have to do this with Dack and Pritchard, and then try and fit Roberts back in the team, I've just been laughing with him (Roberts) – ‘It's going to be tough in two weeks’ time, Pat, I can't change that team’. Let’s wait and see.”

While Pritchard remained beyond the end of the transfer window, Batth and Gooch both headed to pastures new.

Mowbray always maintained he would not stand in the pair’s way if they got an opportunity to safeguard their futures, and proved as good as his word as Batth signed a one-year deal with Norwich City, with the option of a further 12 months, and Gooch penned a two-year contract with Stoke City.

Batth was Sunderland’s Player of the Year last season, while Gooch spent more than a decade on the club’s books after graduating through the academy, and Mowbray developed a close relationships with both players.

“I have to love my players,” said the Black Cats boss. “They have to feel that I care about their lives and career and kids and wives and families.

“I care about them. That's why I’m happy for Danny Batth. If they're not going to play, they should go and get on with their career. It’s the same with Goochy.

“What a decision for Gooch to leave this club, it’s unbelievable. But if he gets more security and thinks he has a better chance of playing then good luck to him.”