SUNDERLAND fans’ favourite Danny Rose is in no rush to sort out his future, but has no intention of warming the bench at White Hart Lane – or anywhere else – next season.

After almost a month on the sidelines with hamstring trouble the exciting left-back made his comeback as a halftime substitute during the 2-1 defeat at Reading on Saturday.

During his time out, Tottenham decided not to recall him early from his loan spell and he is now looking forward to the final few months of the campaign on Wearside.

It remains to be seen if Sunderland, who are keen to keep him long-term, can strike a deal with Spurs for a permanent switch.

Rose is open-minded about the possibility of a return to London, although he insisted that wherever he is come August he wants first team football.

“I have loved every single minute of being here,” said the 22-year-old. “I don’t want to dwell too much on next season because I don’t know what will happen. If I do go back to Tottenham it would be a shame for me not to get the sort of experience I have been getting here.

“I honestly do not know what will happen next season.

I do love Tottenham, they have done a lot for me over the years, I will be forever grateful for the stage I am at now.

“But I am not prepared to go back to sit on the bench and watch other people play football.

I’ve done that enough.”

Rose, left out of the England Under-21s squad for last night’s friendly win over Sweden because of his recent injury, has proved to be a Premier League player with real potential this season.

And having watched friends of a similar age like Daniel Sturridge, Tom Cleverley and Danny Welbeck all progress to full international honours, Rose is keen to keep making strides towards that stage.

“I’ve got friends progressing into the England team and being in the squads. I’d like to think one day I’ll have a shot at doing that,” said Rose. “I’ll only get that when I’m playing week in, week out, and I’m doing that here. Maybe next season.

“I’m enjoying it here and I love being back up north. At this moment in time nothing has been discussed with the management here or the management there about what’s going to happen. I do want to reiterate that I will not be looking to sit on somebody else’s bench again.”

A return to Tottenham is still a possibility, although Benoit Assou-Ekotto, Kyle Naughton and Jan Vertonghen have all played leftback this season.

And when he sits down to watch Ashley Cole earn his 100th cap for his country in tonight’s friendly with Brazil at Wembley, Rose feels the Chelsea defender’s style is something he can learn from.

“You watch Ashley Cole play now and he looks like he is 23 not 33,” said the Doncaster- born former Leeds United academy player. “It’s just amazing how he keeps getting better.

“If I could have half the career he has had I would be happy. I have only been playing left-back for a couple of years now. I have a lot to learn compared to other people who have been playing it their whole careers. There can’t be many better players to learn from than Ashley Cole.”

Rose was left frustrated at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday when an Ian Harte freekick ended up being turned in at the back post by Reading’s Jimmy Kebe.

And with Arsenal due at the Stadium of Light on Saturday it is hoped a sparse training ground this week – 11 players are away on international duty – will be of benefit.

Rose said: “The gaffer was a bit upset with the way we conceded.

We’ve been defending set pieces well.

“It’s good that there is a mini-international break.

People can go away and just change their mindsets. Hopefully they will come back on Thursday, fresh and ready to play Arsenal.”

Sunderland are interested in signing 16-year-old Polish goalkeeper Maksymilian Stryjek.

And, while back-up keeper Keiren Westwood has been advised to leave Wearside by his international boss, Ireland’s Giovanni Trapattoni, he has been backed by John O’Shea, who will skipper the Republic against Poland tonight.

He said: ‘‘Keiren has been training very well, training very hard at Sunderland, but Simon (Mignolet) has been doing excellently as well, so it’s a tough situation he has found himself in.

‘‘He was obviously trying to sort a few things out in January and nothing was able to come of it, so he will have to train and do his stuff again as he has always done.

‘‘He’s a fantastic professional.

He has trained brilliantly over the last couple of days here as well.’’

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