Brendan Rodgers: 'Fabio Borini unfazed by Sunderland snub'

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has insisted that Fabio Borini does not regret snubbing a move to Sunderland in favour of staying with the Reds.

The Italian played a prominent role in helping the Black Cats win their relegation battle during a loan spell last season, but then rejected a £14m permanent switch in the summer.

The 23-year-old has found himself on the fringes of Rodgers's plans so far in this campaign, making just five Premier League appearances - four of which came from the bench.

Speaking to the Liverpool Echo ahead of hosting Sunderland at Anfield on Saturday, the Northern Irishman said: "I don't think he will regret staying.

"Fabio has his own mind, his own way of thinking and he didn't feel that Sunderland was the club that was his next step if he was going to leave here. I don't think it will bother him at all."

Borini, who was Rodgers's first signing on Merseyside, is contracted to the club until 2017.