VITO Mannone has revealed his long wait to become a first choice goalkeeper has made him appreciate his current position as Sunderland’s number one pick even more.

The Italian was given the nod ahead of summer signing Costel Pantilimon at the start of the season, despite suggestions the Romanian international could go straight into the side following his move from Manchester City.

It has been a long journey for Mannone to get to this stage having spent eight years in the shadows at Arsenal as he battled the likes of Jens Lehman, Manuel Almunia, Lukasz Fabianski and Wojiech Szczesny for a place in Arsene Wenger’s plans.

He was limited to 15 first-team appearances in nearly a decade at the north London club, and after Wenger opted to install Szczesny as his number one a few seasons ago, the 26-year-old knew it was time to move on.

Sunderland came calling last summer in the wake of Simon Mignolet’s big-money transfer to Liverpool, but Mannone started the season behind Keiren Westwood.

His first opportunity to impress came after the Republic of Ireland international was injured against Hull and from then on the Italian never looked back.

The keeper, who had loan spells at Barnsley and Hull City during his time at Arsenal, was one of 14 players brought in under Paolo Di Canio and Roberto de Fanti, but he turned out to be the most successful, earning the club’s Player of the Year award for his heroic displays.

Establishing himself hasn’t been easy for Mannone, and the former Italian Under-21 international admits he is savouring every moment on Wearside.

“Being made to wait for your chance like I was makes you appreciate it and I’m enjoying it very much,” Mannone said. “It’s everything I ever wanted and finally I’m getting the chances I think I deserve for the work I’ve put in.

“Like anybody I wouldn’t play football if I was happy to be on the bench as a No.2. You need to fight your way in.

“I was always confident I would start the season as first choice. I’d done everything right last year and the manager knew that and told me that.

“I looked after myself well over the summer and I was ready to take the challenge. It was a normal situation. I played a few games in pre-season, I only missed one.”

Pantilimon arrived at the Stadium of Light with his sights set on a starting spot, but he has been limited to one start in the Capital One Cup defeat to Stoke City.

Having been in the same position before, Mannone refuses to take his place for granted, but the Italian is full of praise for the way his fellow keeper has reacted.

“That’s football. That’s the difference between being a good lad and not,” Mannone said. “I’ve been with both of them in the past. Costel is a good lad. He is training hard and trying to push himself and improve himself.

“We know this world is made of opportunities and if you grab your chances you will be rewarded.

“The manager decides. There’s only one man deciding. It’s not down to me or him or anybody else. I’ve never been angry with a team-mate, because it’s not him that decides whether it’s me that plays or not.”

Mannone was reunited with former Arsenal team-mate Fabianski when Swansea visited the Stadium of Light last weekend and the 26-year-old admits it is good to see both playing regular football.

He said: “I knew when him when I was at Arsenal. We were three good keepers, but there was only one place and we didn’t get many chances, but I’m happy for him and for myself because now we have the opportunity to show what we can do.”

n Two of Sunderland’s festive fixtures have been selected for live TV transmission in December and January.

The Tyne-Wear derby, originally scheduled for Saturday 20 December, will now take place on Sunday, December 21 at 1:30pm. The Black Cats New Year’s Day fixture against Manchester City at the Ethiad will be shown live by BT Sport with a 3pm kick-off.

Ticket details for both fixtures will be announced in due course.