JAMIE VARDY’S journey from non-league football to England’s senior side has dominated the footballing agenda in the last few weeks, and Sunderland are hoping they will be able to tell a similar story in the next few years after Duncan Watmore penned a new four-year deal with the club yesterday.

Watmore joined Sunderland from Conference North side Altrincham Town in the summer 2003, and after winning the Barclays Under-21 Premier League Player of the Year award last season, the 21-year-old forward has broken into the Black Cats’ senior ranks this term.

He scored on his Premier League substitute debut in August, made his first appearance for Gareth Southgate’s England Under-21 side in September and was awarded his first top-flight start as Sunderland suffered a 1-0 defeat to Southampton earlier this month.

His emergence onto the senior scene has resulted in increased speculation about his future, but the Sunderland hierarchy have moved quickly to tie him down to an improved contract that commits him to the Stadium of Light until 2020.

“Every club is searching for young, talented English players, so for us to be able to agree a long-term contract with Duncan is fantastic for Sunderland,” said sporting director Lee Congerton, who continues to work for the Black Cats despite submitting his notice in the wake of Dick Advocaat’s departure earlier this season.

“Through his own hard work and diligence, and by seizing the opportunities given to him, he has progressed from the youth team through to the first team, which is exactly what we want to see from our young players.”

Watmore, whose father, Ian, is a former chief executive of the Football Association, is regarded an ideal example for the rest of Sunderland’s young players to follow.

Intelligent and studious, he has combined his academy career with studying for a degree in economics and business management at Newcastle University, and graduated with first-class honours earlier this year.

On the field, his pace and direct running set him apart from the majority of his team-mates, and enable him to pose an unpredictable attacking threat that could prove significant in the remainder of the season.

“I’m delighted to sign my new deal and commit my future to Sunderland,” he said. “I’ve had a great few years here developing my game and now I hope to push on further, with the help of the staff, my team-mates and the supporters, who have all been fantastic with me.”

Watmore will be part of the Sunderland squad that will travel to Selhurst Park to take on Crystal Palace this evening, although he could well find himself back on the substitutes’ bench with Fabio Borini set to return to the starting line-up.

Advocaat seemed reluctant to promote Watmore despite the youngster scoring in both the league game with Norwich City and the Capital One Cup win over Exeter City, but Allardyce, who is still searching for his preferred first-choice line-up, is unlikely to have any such qualms.

“Duncan is an exciting prospect, and the kind of talent that you want to see coming through at your club,” said the Sunderland boss. “He is a bright young man, he has a sensible head on his shoulders, and if he continues to make the kind of progress we have seen this season, I am sure that he has a great future ahead of him.”