Sunderland winger Emanuele Giaccherini admits he would love to be playing more regularly in the dying stages of the Premier League season.
The 28-year old winger is on the fringes of Cesare Prandelli's Italy squad ahead of this summer's World Cup but knows he will struggle to force his way into the Azzurri roster if he cannot attract regular minutes at club level.
Giaccherini has not started for the Black Cats since March 26 and was used only off the bench in the 2-1 against Chelsea before scoring in the weekend's 4-0 victory over Cardiff City.
That performance has given Giaccherini confidence of receiving more playing time in the final two fixtures as he strives to make the Italian squad for Brazil 2014 but he insists he is also concerned about Sunderland's survival efforts.
"In the last two months, I haven't played much. I don't know why," the former Juventus man told the Sunderland Echo.
"But the last three games have been important both for me and the team.
"The team has to come first because we need to survive in the Premier League.
"But it's good for me to do well, for the consequences it could have with me for the national team.
"I'm happy to contribute with a goal and for us to win. The other times I've scored in the Premier League, were one draw and two defeats."
