Ian Harte hopes to make his Sunderland debut this weekend against Reading.

The former Leeds and Levante left-back told the Sunderland Echo: "I know that Ross Wallace has done very well at left-back, though he's naturally a left-winger and Danny Collins has played the last game at left-back, even though he's a centre-half.

"But left-back is my out-and-out position and so I know that, if I hit the right standard in my preferred position, I have a chance of earning a proper run in the team.

"At the end of the day, it's the manager who picks the first 11, though, and I just have to show I'm worth selection by what I do on the training pitch.

"I'm fit to play should I be called for the Reading game.

"I am definitely fit and very excited about the prospect of playing."