PLAYER PROFILE

Ross Wallace

Position: Midfield

Height: 5'6

Weight: 10st 0lbs

Date of Birth: 1985-05-23 Dundee, Scotland

Ross Wallace

Ross Wallace is a product of the Celtic youth academy and made his breakthrough into the first team in the third round of the Scottish League Cup in October 2002 when he came on as a substitute for Didier Agathe in the 68th minute, having only signed professional terms with the club just months before.

Wallace enjoyed a good run during the 2003/04 season, and made his European debut in the Champions League second qualifying round tie against FBK Kaunas of Lithuania in August 2003, which the Hoops won 1-0.

He has risen through the Scottish international roots and is on the verge of becoming a regular for the Under-21 side.

The 2004/05 campaign saw this steady ascent continue. All in all, he played 21 games and scored three goals - a hat-trick in Celtic's 8-1 League Cup drubbing of Falkirk. He also came on as a substitute in the Bhoys famous 1-1 draw with Barcelona at the Nou Camp.

Such was his promise this season that manager Martin O'Neill dismissed any talk of him being loaned to another team, saying the talented winger featured heavily in his plans.

Gordon Strachan clearly shared O'Neill's opinions, and played Wallace a further 14 times in 2005/06, including a starting spot in the Scottish League Cup Final win over Dunfermline.

However, he left the club for Sunderland in August 2006 and immediately made an impact, helping the club to promotion thanks to six goals in 32 games.

His experience will be vital during the 2007/08 season as Sunderland seek to avoid relegation.