Sunderland's Kieran Richardson has signed a new three-year contract which commits him to the Barclays Premier League club until the summer of 2013.

The 25-year-old former Manchester United midfielder joined the club nearly three years ago and has since played 85 games for the Black Cats.

Richardson, who had spells on loan at West Ham and West Brom during his time at Old Trafford, has also featured at left-back under Black Cats manager Steve Bruce.

Richardson scored just once for Sunderland last season, in the 2-2 home draw with West Ham in October, and was dismissed in the 2-2 draw at Manchester United earlier that month.

His high spot in a red and white shirt was scoring an impressive free-kick which saw off Newcastle a year earlier and gave the Wearsiders their first home league success over their arch-rivals for 28 years.