Mannone vows to keep working hard

HAnd Sunderland’s current Player of the Season is hoping that continued good work in the Black Cats goal will eventually be noticed in his homeland.

“You can always do more, but, at the end of the day, it’s about those people who need to watch me and appreciate what I need to do,” he said.

“I need to keep working myself and try to help this team get as many points as we can and then we will see.”

To achieve his international ambitions, Mannone needs to keep his number one spot at Sunderland, which inevitably means frustrating the hopes of the Black Cats’ Romanian international keeper Costel Pantilimon.

The 6ft 8in goalie, who joined Sunderland in the summer from Premier League champions Manchester City, has so far been unable to dislodge Mannone from the number one spot.

Former Arsenal keeper Mannone is familiar with this sort of intense competition for a place in the side but he says it helps when keepers have the character not to let it become personal.

And he says he has been pleased to find that he and Pantilimon have developed a good working relationship at the Academy of Light.

“It’s football,” he shrugged. “That’s the difference between good lads, and not.

“I’ve been with both of them in the past. Costel is a good lad, training hard and trying to push himself and improve himself, just as I am.

“We know that this is a world made of opportunities and chances.

“If you grab your chance, then it’s down to the manager.

“But I’ve never been angry with my team- mate, because it’s not him deciding whether I’m going on the pitch or not.”