THERE'S anger and frustration on both sides after Alex Pritchard's Sunderland situation escalated this week, leading to the midfielder making himself unavailable for Saturday's game against Stoke City.

Sunderland released a statement shortly before 2pm on Saturday confirming Pritchard wouldn't be involved against the Potters and had "expressed his desire to leave with immediate effect".

The Black Cats felt the need to publish the statement after Pritchard had declared himself unavailable for the game on Friday.

But from Pritchard's perspective, frustration has been building for a number of months.

He is understood to have wanted a new long-term deal in the summer but at that stage Sunderland were unwilling to put a contract on the table and instead wanted to assess the situation as the season progressed.

Pritchard got his head down, impressed and showed that he remains a key player for the Black Cats, leading to Sunderland offering a one-year extension earlier this month on his current terms.

But the midfielder is thought to have felt unvalued in the summer and is believed to have the offer of more security elsewhere.

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Sunderland sources insist they do want to keep Pritchard but with no end in sight to the contract stand-off - and after this week's developments - the Black Cats will sanction the exit of the 30-year-old if they receive an acceptable offer. Sunderland sources insist there's no offer currently on the table. There's been talk of interest from Turkey and Birmingham City.

Pritchard felt he had no choice but to take action this week. With the midfielder unhappy with the offer on the table, he doesn't want to play, risk injury and potentially jeopardise longer-term opportunities.

Michael Beale was keen to focus on the players who were involved after Saturday's 3-1 win over Stoke City, but admitted Sunderland could now look to strengthen in attacking midfield ahead of Thursday's deadline with Pritchard, as things stand, looking certain to have played his last game for the club.

Quizzed on the Pritchard situation on Saturday evening, Beale said: "It's been ongoing to be honest, not just the last 24 hours. He's a boy who is coming up to the end of his contract and he's been offered one, I think mentally it has got a bit much for him. Let's keep the focus on the players who played today.

"Look, we've always been looking to strengthen given the players that have gone on loan and the injuries we have. Numbers were really light today and you can see that.

"The only thing I'd say on the Pritchard one is that it hasn't been that difficult for me, I came in knowing that there would be a conversation between him and the club and whatever happens after that, is out of your hands. Alex has been really honest and we've been really honest in return. I lose a player but that gives opportunities to others and Mason and Abdoullah and today they took it.

"I can only reiterate that this is a wonderful team to play for, the facilities we have, the support we get home and away, it's a fantastic place to play and it's important we keep the focus on the players who were out there today."