The defender was under consideration at Sunderland late last year.

David Edgar is training with Sunderland’s League One rivals, Bradford City, after failing to earn a contract at the Stadium of Light, the Bantams manager, David Hopkin, is quoted as telling the Telegraph and Argus.

Edgar, who began his career at Newcastle United, returned to the north east on trial with Sunderland in December last year.

But the Mackems boss, Jack Ross, was quoted as telling the Sunderland Echo: “He came in last week and trained. There’s nothing we’ll pursue on that.

“He did fine when he was in, we’re just looking at how we can improve and strengthen what we have.”

And Edgar, an experienced defender who can play anywhere across the back line, will hope to fare better down the road at Bradford, where he is reportedly joined by the former Sheffield Wednesday midfielder, Lewis McGugan.

“They have been training over the last few days and acquitted themselves well. We’re having a look,” Hopkin is alleged to have said.

Having seemingly passed up on Edgar, Sunderland went on to sign the Burnley defender, Jimmy Dunne, on loan until the end of the campaign.

Sunderland have already played twice this season, and it is unlikely that Edgar will come back to haunt them if he is successful in earning a deal with Bradford.

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