VITO EYES ITALIAN JOB

SUNDERLAND keeper Vito Mannone hopes his Premier League performances can propel him into the Italy squad.

The 26- year- old, who has seven U21 caps on his CV, has yet to make a senior international appearance for his country. And the stopper admits that he felt a pang of jealousy when he saw his team- mates heading off on international duty after Sunderland’s win over Stoke City last weekend.

“A little bit I envy them,” Mannone told the Echo. “I’m always wishing that good performances in the Premier League will be enough for somebody to have a look at me. “Sometimes the lads are joking with me and say I’m not even an Italian any more!

“But I am, and I wish sometimes that this call will come and I can join as well.

“Sometimes you see the lads going and I stay here and enjoy my family and working hard. But it would be a good reward.” Mannone’s way, like that every other Italian goalkeeper, is blocked by the colossal figure of Gianluigi Buffon.

The most capped player in Italy’s history with 143 callups for the Azzurri and at the age of 36, the Juventus legend still has a few years in his locker. But Mannone would be content challenging the likes of 27- yearold Paris St- Germain keeper Salvatore Sirigu or 21- year- old Genoa stopper Mattia Perin for a place in the goalkeeping group.

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