ROSS Wallace has turned down the option of a permanent move to Preston, but the Sunderland midfielder will remain at Deepdale for the remainder of the season before reassessing his position in the summer.

Wallace joined Preston on loan in August, and has scored three goals in 25 games to help Alan Irvine’s side climb to seventh in the Championship table.

With Black Cats boss Ricky Sbragia opting not to recall him to Wearside, the Scotsman has been in talks with Preston over a possible permanent move to Deepdale.

Those talks are understood to have broken down, with Wallace reluctant to take a pay cut and preferring to keep his options open as he enters the final six months of his current Sunderland deal.

But the versatile midfielder will remain on loan at Preston for the second half of the campaign, and is hoping to repeat 2007’s Championship success with Sunderland by helping the Lilywhites win promotion to the Premier League.

Wallace, who featured in Preston’s FA Cup defeat to Liverpool last weekend, is a valued member of Irvine’s squad, and the North End boss is delighted to have guaranteed his participation in the final five months of the season.

Wallace will feature in Preston’s game at Wolves on Saturday, a match that coincides with Sunderland’s crucial Premier League trip to Middlesbrough.

The Black Cats travel to the Riverside knowing a victory would take them five points clear of Gareth Southgate’s side, and could be boosted by the presence of Kieran Richardson despite the midfielder picking up a nasty ankle knock in Saturday’s FA Cup victory over Bolton.

Richardson was forced to hobble from the field when he was on the wrong end of a mistimed tackle from Kevin Nolan during last weekend’s win, but having avoided any broken bones, the 24-year-old is hopeful of featuring against Boro.

“I would be gutted to miss the derby, so hopefully I will have recovered for that game,” he said. “The knock was a very painful one. I put ice on it in the dressing room and it was still painful after the game, but I feel pretty confident I will be okay for the Boro match. I am enjoying my football at the moment, and don’t want to miss any games.”

■ Michael Liddle has extended his current loan spell at Carlisle by another month.

The teenage left-back, who has played eight games for the Cumbrians since joining in November, will remain at Brunton Park until February 14. However, goalkeeper Trevor Carson has returned from his loan spell at Chesterfield.

■ Yesterday’s reserve game between Liverpool and Sunderland was postponed because of a frozen pitch.