VITO MANNONE could leave Sunderland in January after becoming frustrated at a lack of first-team football.

Mannone has made just one appearance this season, in the 4-1 home defeat to Manchester City in the Capital One Cup after losing his place to Costel Pantilimon following a loss of form last year.

And, with Jordan Pickford in fine form on loan at Preston North End, Sam Allardyce has revealed that he is considering bringing back the 21-year old to challenge Pantilimon if Mannone is to leave Wearside, with interest from clubs in Italy reported earlier this week.

Allardyce said: “We have spoken to Vito and he wants to be playing first team football and he is not getting that here. His contract expires at the end of the season and he may want to move out.

“We would not be letting him out on loan as he is a free agent in the summer. He feels as a player of his calibre and standard, he should not be sititing here as a number two. So it depends whether a club comes in and wants to take him.”

Pickford, who has represented England at every level up to the Under-21s, is highly-rated within the club, who see him as a potential first choice goalkeeper should his career continue on the current trajectory.

And Allardyce said: “I am thinking about Jordan Pickford coming back (from Preston). “He has been doing so well there and been out at so many places on loan, gaining a huge amount of experience. It might be time for us to bring him back to the club. That depends on how the goalkeeping situation lies, in particular with Vito."