Sunderland defender Jassem Sukar is determined to prove Northeast rivals Middlesbrough wrong.

Sukar was twice rejected by Boro before being handed a chance at Sunderland.

"I was released by Middlesbrough on Mother's Day, which wasn't great for my mam," Sukar recalled to safc.com.

"Both her and my dad told me that that was just the beginning because I was still young.

"I joined Marton and won the league in my first season.

"Eventually I went back to Middlesbrough for a trial, which didn't work out, and when I came to Sunderland in the under-15s everyone was so welcoming."