David Meyler hopes a big preseason will help him break into the Sunderland first team.

The Irish midfielder feels he's now over his knee woes.

Meyler told The Journal: "I spoke to the manager at the end of last season and I told him I wanted to play. He said to me that was fine, but that I had to prove to him I was worthy of my place. So I am of the mind to push hard every day and give everything I've got to get in that Sunderland team. I did take a few weeks off over the summer, going on a holiday or two, but when I got back to Ireland I started extra training with my dad to work on fitness.

"My dad is quite a well known coach back home, working in different sports. He even thinks he knows a thing or two about soccer.

"So I trained away with him. I built up my upper strength and identified little things in my game that needed working on. He helped me improve and I feel that it's paid off.

"The Gaelic football is one of his. Now there is a proper man's game.

"I look at things like this. If a manager says it's there for you if you want it, then you owe it to yourself to go for it."