TORE ANDRE FLO has vowed to put his family in front of his football career and stay at Sunderland - despite becoming the club's sixth-choice striker.

Just eight months after moving to Wearside for £8.2m, the Norwegian misfit suffered the indignity on Saturday of being overlooked in favour of Kevin Kyle, David Bellion and Michael Proctor.

Flo, who has not scored this year, has also found himself relegated behind Kevin Phillips and Marcus Stewart - both of whom were unavailable against Newcastle United - since Mick McCarthy took charge.

Yet the 29-year-old is determined not to quit Sunderland, even though their spiraling debts and anticipated 50 per cent drop in turnover next season mean they would listen to offers for their £40,000-a-week record signing.

Flo said: "I don't want to move my family again, and I'm very positive about the future with Sunderland.

"I'm willing to have one season in the First Division in order to get Sunderland back in the Premiership.

"I know Sunderland are in need of money and I know they have to get rid of some players.

"But you can't snap your fingers and get other clubs to take your players.

"I don't know what they're thinking; they haven't spoken to me about anything.

"It wouldn't be easy to find a new club, but I want to stay at Sunderland."

Flo's agent Gunnar Martin Kjenner has claimed his client has attracted interest from the glamorous Primera Liga.

He said: "One of the best Spanish clubs asked about Tore three months ago."

Matthew Piper's miserable first season on Wearside has come to an unhappy conclusion after he had a second operation on his groin injury.

Piper, a £3.5m signing from Leicester City in August, has made just eight first-team starts for Sunderland.

McCarthy said: "Matt's gone in for keyhole surgery and that's him finished for the season.

"I've heard good things about him, so the important thing now is to get him right for pre-season."

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