MARK Hughes is set to reward Michael Gray with a new contract after the former England international has succeeded in resurrecting his career under the Blackburn boss over the last six months.

The former Sunderland defender, who is relishing the chance to face his old club at Ewood tonight, has won Hughes over with some great performances since he was recalled to the side after an 11-month absence in mid-September.

Now the Rovers boss has indicated he's ready to offer the 31-year-old a new deal and he hopes to open talks in the next few weeks.

"Michael will be offered a new deal and we hope he accepts it," said Hughes.

"It's early days yet and there will be discussions on all points.

"There's a lot of things that need to be talked about but we hope that will resolve itself and Mickey will be here next season."

There was a point last season when it looked as if Gray, a free transfer signing from Sunderland in January 2004, had played his last game in a Rovers shirt.

Axed by Hughes after a humilating 4-0 defeat at Chelsea last season, Gray was then shipped out to Leeds on loan and Rovers were ready to make that a permanent arrangement in the summer, only for the Championship club to pull the plug because they couldn't afford the player's wages.

However, Gray's determination to prove himself to Hughes prompted the Welshman to give him a second chance and he has since seized that with both hands, and is now a regular again in the first team.

"I'm playing in a great side at the moment, I'm really enjoying my football and it's entirely up to me," said Gray, in reference to securing a new deal.

"We've got some great left-backs at the club and I know that if my performances are not up to the manager's standards, then I could easily be sat watching games again."

Meanwhile, Gray is relishing the prospect of facing Sunderland tonight for the first time since he quit the Black Cats two years ago.

Mick McCarthy's men are rock bottom of the Premiership and staring relegation in the face, with strikers Jon Stead and Kevin Kyle have yet to score a goal between them this season.

"Jon is struggling for goals, but I have a lot of friends in the north-east and they have been impressed by his never-say-die attitude," said Gray, who revealed that he was instrumental in persuading Stead to move to Sunderland last summer.

"I spoke to him a couple of times last summer and he told me that a couple of clubs were after him, so I showed him around the Sunderland area to get him used to the place.

"He really thought that it was the right club. I just hope that the goals come so that he can thank me for telling him that Sunderland was a great club for him!"