Mannone loving life with the Black Cats

Sunderland 2 Southampton 2

The 25-year-old Sunderland keeper, who played a key role in Saturday’s battling draw with Southampton, was last week linked with a move to Old Trafford amid speculation that David Moyes was targeting him as back-up to David de Gea.

However, the Italian will line up against United in Wednesday night’s Capital One Cup semi-final second leg clash insisting he is happy on Wearside.

“I don’t really care about this stuff,” he said. “It’s stuff that happens outside of the football pitch. My concentration is on the football pitch and it was on this game. Now we have got another massive game. I am really loving my time at Sunderland and I don’t see why I would move.

“I want to stay as first choice and I want my performances to improve. That’s the only aim I have, apart from aiming to beat Manchester United. That’s the only focus I have on Manchester United.”

Rarely has Mannone been busier than he was at the Stadium of Light when Southampton threatened to overwhelm Gus Poyet’s men with a blistering start.

The Saints roared into a 2-0 lead within 31 minutes, with Jay Rodriguez and Dejan Lovren taking full advantage of Sunderland’s lethargy.

Fabio Borini’s strike seconds after Lovren had beaten Mannone handed the home side a lifeline, and they rescued themselves with 19 minutes left with Adam Johnson’s priceless equaliser.

Sunderland remain in the relegation zone and a point from safety, with Crystal Palace and Norwich both having eased their own fears with victories over the weekend.

SUNDERLAND: Mannone, Bardsley, O’Shea, Brown, Alonso, Cattermole (Gardner 62), Johnson, Larsson (Colback 63), Ki, Borini, Altidore (Fletcher 72).

Booked: Cattermole, Ki.

SOUTHAMPTON: Boruc, Chambers, Fonte, Lovren (Yoshida 88), Shaw, Steven Davis, Cork, Schneiderlin, Lallana (Ramirez 74), Lambert, Rodriguez, Ramirez (Ward-Prowse 87).

Ref: Chris Foy (Merseyside).