Manager Alan Irvine said today the 23-year-old's situation is still unclear with the transfer window less than a month away.

North End are adamant they would love to keep winger Wallace after his impressive spell at Deepdale – either by extending his loan or buying him outright.

But there is a danger Sunderland - now without a manager after Roy Keane left the club on Thursday - could still recall him to the Stadium of Light to aid the fight against relegation.

And on top of that Irvine fears the player himself may not want to stay in the Championship when the time comes to make up his mind.

"It is not all that clear at the moment," said Irvine before the Preston squad set off for South Wales today to prepare for Saturday's game against Cardiff City.

"We are hoping to keep him beyond January. But all we can do is speak to Sunderland and speak to Ross and his agent and take it from there."

PNE tried to strike a deal with the Black Cats at the start of the season to buy Wallace. But the Premier League outfit declined to sell at the time.

Instead the two clubs agreed a lengthy loan with a promise to review the situation in the New Year.

A selling price was thrashed out, but it was decided the deal would only be done if Preston, Wallace and Sunderland all wanted to make it full-time in January.

If we could get him on a permanent basis then that would be fantastic," added Irvine.

Read the rest of this story in Thursday's Lancashire Evening Post

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