The right-back - who signed a three-year deal in July when he joined for an undisclosed fee from Tottenham Hotspur - has failed to figure in the Wearsiders' last four matches and subsequently been linked with a move to Lyon in the January transfer window.

However, agent Willie McKay has insisted there has been no contact with the French champions, who on Tuesday night booked their place in the last 16 of the Champions League with a 2-1 win at Fiorentina.

McKay said: "(Sunderland manager) Roy Keane picks the team but Pascal's quite happy at Sunderland and I believe he will stay in the Premier League."

Sunderland host Bolton Wanderers at the Stadium of Light on Saturday. The Black Cats sit one point and one position above the relegation zone.