Phil Bardsley fears his Sunderland career could come to a close this summer after admitting he has been forced to consider his future.

Bardsley returned to the starting line-up at Liverpool on Sunday and he is expected to start against Tottenham this weekend because Alan Hutton is ineligible.

He lost his place at rightback since Hutton’s arrival on loan from White Hart Lane in January, and the 24-year-old expects further additions to be made during the close-season.

But rather than worry about what the future might hold if Hutton’s deal becomes a permanent arrangement, Bardsley is relaxed about what could be around the corner.

“It’s part of football. Phil Bardsley doesn’t get down because Alan Hutton comes in and plays - Phil Bardsley will look after himself and keep himself in the best shape he can,” said the former Manchester United defender.

“If it’s to be at Sunderland or somewhere else, you just never know. All I want to do is play football and we’ll just have to wait and see.

“I think you have to think about your future as a footballer.

Obviously, if you’re not part of the manager’s plans you have to look elsewhere and move on as every player does. I’m just looking forward to the remainder of the season and we’ll take it from there.

“If it was up to me, I’d like to stay. I enjoy it up here but I’m not the manager and, as every player will tell you, if you’re not playing you’re not happy. We’ll wait and see.

“I’ve got a good relationship with the manager. I’ve still got a year left on my contract.

Hopefully I’ll stay but we’ll see.”

Despite his relatively young age, Sunderland are Bardsley’s seventh club since emerging from the Old Trafford Academy, a fact which has contributed to his laidback approach about moving on again.

Regardless of what happens over the summer months, he is intent on making his mark before the end of the season.

His return was not ideal on Sunday, when Fernando Torres cut in from his flank to score the opener in a comfortable 3-0 Liverpool win.

“It was nice to be back involved again - every footballer wants to play football,” he said. “If you’re playing, you’re happy and it’s the same for me.

“It’s frustrating when you’re out of the team but you just train as well as you can, prepare yourself right and take the chance when it comes up.

“It wasn’t the easiest game to come back in though - when Torres and Gerrard play like they did it’s difficult to get a result. I was disappointed but you just hold your hand up when the opposition is playing that well.

“It was a disappointing game but we just take our medicine and move on.”

Sunderland still have problems defensively ahead of Saturday’s visit of Spurs.

As well as being without Hutton, manager Steve Bruce confirmed yesterday that hamstring-victim John Mensah remains a huge doubt to return to the centre of his defence.

Without the Ghanaian the Black Cats have not looked as organised and solid, with Anton Ferdinand having to swap the left-back role he has been performing well in for the central role he personally prefers.

“We’re a better team with John in there,” Bruce told the club’s official website last night.

“That’s meant with no disrespect to the other lads; he’s just a quality defender who gives us confidence.

“We hope he can finish the season by getting another few games under his belt before he goes away to the World Cup.”