SUNDERLAND are confident that Bali Mumba is focused on staying on Wearside to further his career and enhance his rising reputation, despite growing interest from Champions League clubs.

Manchester City and Chelsea are just two of the many top teams known to be keeping an eye on the teenager after his impressive start to life as a professional at the Stadium of Light.

The England Under-18 international, who only signed a new professional deal this season that ties him to the Black Cats for a few years, has shone in midfield and he played well at right wing-back against Notts County in the Checkatrade Trophy in midweek.

While he is yet to command a regular spot in the Sunderland first-team, he is firmly part of Jack Ross’ plans and the manager sees no reason to be concerned by the attention Mumba is receiving from the Premier League.

Ross said: “He’s signed a three-year contract. It was good for us. It’s a reflection of the academy that produced him and it shows he wants to stay here and is happy.

“I think we’ve shown the pathway’s there with the experiences he’s had this season. He’s got a bit of personality about him in a good way.

“For us, if he moves on from here at some point you hope it’s for something that will blow his mind rather than just being something where you could argue he’s better off here.

“In an ideal world you would always have that comfort, and his contract means we can be fairly relaxed about his situation.”

Mumba only turned 17 at the beginning of October and he has figured in four League One games for Sunderland this season. He made his debut for the club in the 3-0 win over Wolves on the final day of last season.

Ross might have only taken over in the summer but he was quick to realise Sunderland could have someone special on their hands, with speculation he is already worth £2.5m a sign of his talent.

“I was aware of him because he’d made his debut against Wolves and I’d watched a little bit. Circumstances meant from day one he was in with me because we had such low numbers,” said Ross. “He’s trained every single day with me since the start of the season. You’ll be aware of a player’s reputation but I loved him. He’s my type of player.

“He’s got an unbelievably good feel for the game and he does things you can maybe teach but he’s not the sort of player who’s not always going to blow you away – he’s not going to go past five people and put it in the top corner – but he does the things you need to do in a game very well.

“He protects the ball very well, he puts the ball in positions where other people can’t get it, which sounds very simple but isn’t easy, and his understanding of the tactical side of the game is very good. He’s got things that give him every chance of having a really good career, a good platform.”

Mumba is likely to be in the squad at Accrington today and Ross thinks the player’s family and the club’s academy structure deserve enormous credit for the way he has developed.

The Sunderland manager said: “Part of his grounded mentality is his upbringing and his family, but also the communication we have with him all the time.

“It just gives me confidence that he’ll go on and fuflil his potential.

“He’s got character and a personality, which you need to have, and he’s got belief, not arrogance.

“At the moment he’s got a really good mix of characteristics and I don’t see that changing. He’s a likeable young man and I don’t think his family would allow him to change in that respect – I don’t think he would anyway.”