Soccer: Black Cat Thornton desperate to play

SUNDERLAND midfielder Sean Thornton is desperate to put his injury misery behind him and help his club in the battle for promotion.

The 20-year-old Irishman has been sidelined for nine weeks with an ankle injury, a spell that has seen the Black Cats slip to the fringes of the race for a swift return to the Premiership.

However, he is now close to making his comeback and is confident that he can play a part in a concerted bid to climb into the top six.