Emanuele Giaccherini "happy" to commit future to Sunderland

Emanuele Giaccherini has insisted that he wants to stay at Sunderland and fight for his place in Gus Poyet's first team.

The Italy international has fallen behind Fabio Borini and Adam Johnson in the pecking order since New Year's Day, but has claimed that he is willing to wait for his chance.

"I want to stay here," Giaccherini told the Shields Gazette "I'm happy here. The gaffer has to do what he thinks is right, and choose the best team.

"It's important that I train well and make the most of my chance when he asks me to start. Borini and Johnson have both been playing well too. The important thing is Sunderland, not me."

The 28-year-old moved to the Stadium of Light from Juventus last summer.