JORDAN HENDERSON wants to fulfil his childhood dream and help Sunderland become an established Premier League force after signing a new long-term contract with his hometown club.

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce has tipped the England Under-19 international for a bright future.

As well as keeping an eye on the teenager’s progress during his time in charge at Wigan, Bruce was given a glowing report on his potential by former Sunderland boss Roy Keane.

The Black Cats chief has been extremely satisfied to witness the young midfielder live up to his billing and, after impressing every time he has played for the club this season, his reward is a new fourand- half-year contract.

His appearance in the 2-2 draw at Manchester United on October 3 was his seventh Premier League outing of the season and he scored his first goal for the club in the Carling Cup win over Birmingham last month.

Henderson, who used to go to Sunderland matches with his father, was brought up in Herrington and his new contract commits him to the club he supported as a child until the summer of 2013.

The 19-year-old joined the club aged just nine and he was handed his debut by Keane in at Chelsea in November 2008.

Sunderland’s record buy Darren Bent, meanwhile, has revealed he has been given a bit of “advice” from Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer.

Shearer and Bent recently attended the opening of a restaurant when they chatted about football, with Bent’s failure to force his way back into the England squad likely to have been a prominent topic.

Bent, speaking on his Twitter page, said: “Alan Shearer gave me some nice words.

When someone’s scored 350- plus goals and gives you advice you make sure you listen and I did.”