CALLUM McMANAMAN freely admits he is hoping to rebuild his career at Sunderland, after spending the best part of two years kicking his heels on the sidelines.

McManaman was one of three players to join Sunderland on transfer-deadline day, with West Brom having released him on a free transfer to enable him to sign a two-year deal at the Stadium of Light.

The Baggies’ willingness to give him away for nothing represented a radical change of tack from the way in which they trumpeted his arrival when he made a £4.75m switch from Wigan Athletic in January 2015.

McManaman was Tony Pulis’ first signing as West Brom boss, but the winger made just seven senior starts in a season-and-a-half at the Hawthorns.

He spent the second half of last season on loan at Sheffield Wednesday, but even that switch did not go to plan when he was afforded just two Championship starts for the Owls. As a result, he sees Thursday’s move to Wearside as a welcome opportunity to wipe the slate clean.

“It’s been hard over the last year or so, not playing and not being involved,” said McManaman, whose first challenge is to force his way into the squad for Sunderland’s home game with Sheffield United on Saturday. “So I’m just looking to get playing again and get enjoying things again.

“I want to get back playing, and try to help this club get back where it belongs. It’s a massive club with a massive fan base.

“I just want to be playing every week and enjoying it. I want to get myself going and get back to where I was, because I haven’t been able to do that.”

While Pulis clearly decided he did not rate McManaman highly enough to play him in the Premier League, Sunderland boss Simon Grayson spent most of deadline-day trying to set up the deal that brought the 26-year-old to Wearside.

With Wahbi Khazri having left to join Rennes, the Black Cats were short of wide options, but McManaman’s arrival helps address the issue, with the Liverpudlian set to challenge Aiden McGeady, George Honeyman and fellow new arrival Jonny Williams for a place in the starting line-up.

“If the gaffer believes in you then it gives you a lot more confidence, that’s massive,” said McManaman. “He seems sound, and all the lads have said good things about him. I’m looking forward to working under him and getting playing under him.”

Khazri left on a season-long loan deal, with Rennes having agreed a clause that should see them complete a permanent transfer next summer.

The Tunisian made an immediate impact when he signed for Sam Allardyce and helped Sunderland engineer one of their fabled ‘Great Escapes’ in the 2015-16 season, but sensed his fortunes were about to change as soon as David Moyes walked through the door the following summer.

“Last year, I did not play much, and this year I was not going to play either,” said Khazri. “I needed to find pleasure and to get some, so I’m happy to be in Rennes.

“I do not regret having chosen England. It was an exceptional first six months, and we managed to escape (relegation). After that, there were circumstances. A coach who (was) leaving, and who had brought me (to Sunderland), and a new coach who arrives with his players and does not trust me and does not make me play.”

Moyes broke his silence about his time at Sunderland in an interview on Saturday morning. The Scotsman confirmed his desire to return to management, and once again defended his decision to admit the Black Cats were “in a relegation battle” just two games into last season.

The comment infuriated a large number of Sunderland supporters, with his negativity standing in marked contrast to the upbeat, positive approach adopted by Grayson during his first three months in charge.

“I think I would rather not have said it,” said Moyes. “But at the same time, I’d always rather be honest. We’d just lost to Middlesbrough and had a couple of difficulties picking the team. The reaction surprised me a little bit because all I was doing was speaking honestly.

“It was a tough season, not what I expected. And it was disappointing because I wasn’t able to get the results that maybe in years gone by I would have done. But I think there were mitigating circumstances.

“It was a squad that was not at Premier League level, and a squad that had been beaten up a few times and come very close to relegation before. It needed refreshing, but it wasn’t possible because of the finances we had available.”

Meanwhile, Sunderland youngster Max Stryjek suffered a hamstring injury nine minutes into his Accrington Stanley debut, after joining the League Two club on loan on Thursday. The goalkeeper faces up to two months on the sidelines.