Sunderland goalkeeper Keiren Westwood has revealed that he considered leaving the Stadium of Light in order to seek first-team football.
The 28-year-old has admitted that he was willing to take a pay cut and drop into the Championship just so he could be first pick in the ranks.
"Yes, I think the summer was going to be a bit of a crossroads for me," Westwood told the Shields Gazette. "I actually love it here, it's a fantastic club and I get on great with everybody. I've got a lot of good friends here.
"It would have been a wrench to leave, but on the other side of it, I have to think of my career. I want to play. Everybody knows I want to play. It's not in my nature to sit on the bench.
"I would rather go and play for a Championship team on less money and play every week, just so I get that buzz on a Saturday."
While Westwood will no longer have to compete with Simon Mignolet, who recently signed for Liverpool, he will have to fight for his spot with new signing Vito Mannone.
Danielle Joynson
