Arrivals and departures - part two

Ross Wallace was born 23 May 1985 in Dundee. 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 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. Wallace also scored his only league goal for the club during the 2003/04 season in a 5-0 victory against Dunfermline on 8 November 2003.

The 2004/05 campaign saw Wallace make 21 games in all competitions 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 Towards the end of the 2005/06 season, new signing Mark Wilson replaced him at left back even though it is not his natural position. Wallace did, however, play in the Scottish League Cup Final against Dunfermline at left back because Wilson was cup tied after having played in the competition for Dundee United. Wallace had made 37 league appearances for Celtic

Wallace joined Sunderland from Celtic on 31 August 2006 along with teammate Stanislav Varga for a combined deal of £ 1.1million.

He made his first team début on 9 September against Derby and scored the winner in a 2-1 win. His arrival on Wearside saw him keep the number 33 that he wore at Celtic. Wallace also scored the winning goal at Hull. On both occasions he removed his shirt after scoring, which at Hull earned him a second yellow card and his second red card of the season after being sent off against Ipswich.

Wallace scored 6 goals in 32 appearances as Sunderland won the Championship. The 2007/08 season saw Wallace start the season as Sunderland's first choice left-back despite several new defenders joining the club during the pre-season. On 11 August 2007 Ross lined up against Tottenham on the first game of the season and successfully provided the 93rd minute assist that enabled Michael Chopra to score and Sunderland to win the game. This form has continued into the second game away to Birmingham when once again Ross played an integral part in the decisive goal when he provided the free kick that eventually led to Stern John's late equaliser. The match finished 2-2.

He scored his first goal of the season against Reading at the Stadium of Light in a 2-1 victory for Sunderland, scoring again on a 3-2 loss to Arsenal scoring the first ever goal for Sunderland at their first ever game at the Emirates Stadium. On 18 January 2008 it was reported that Wallace had sustained an Anterior Cruciate Ligament knee injury and returned to the first team on the 1-0 defeat at home to Arsenal on 11 May 2008. He had scored 2 goals in 21 appearances during the season.

During the summer of 2008 Wallace rejected an offer from Preston so that he could fight for his place in the Sunderland squad. But due to the summer signings of Sunderland, Keane told Wallace that he is even further down the pecking order and unlikely to get many games next season.

Wallace signed a year long loan at Preston with a view to a permanent deal at the end of the season. There is also a clause in the deal which allows Wallace to return to the Stadium of Light if he or the club (Sunderland) wishes in January. He made his debut for Preston in the 2-0 League Cup victory against Chesterfield on 12 August 2008.