FABIO BORINI has revealed how being forced to train on his own made him realise he was being forced out of Liverpool – and now he wants to make up for lost time at Sunderland.

The likeable Italian is in line to make the first appearance of his second spell with the Black Cats against Tottenham on Sunday following his £7.75m, potentially rising by a further £2m, transfer from Anfield on August 31.

It was a move he could have made 12 months earlier when the two clubs agreed a fee in the region of £14m after his successful season-long loan at the Stadium of Light.

But Borini wanted to stay at Liverpool and fight for a place in the hope of making a name for himself in the Champions League. This summer, however, it became clear he would be leaving after Rodgers prevented him from training with the first team squad.

And, speaking to The Northern Echo for the first time since his return at the Academy of Light yesterday, the 24-year-old admitted the time was right to accept the return to Sunderland.

“I wasted too much time. Not because I wanted to waste it, or deserved to waste it. I just wasted it,” said Borini. “That's why I came back to a place where I have been loved and still feel the love from the supporters.

“I think it makes it easier. I don't need to adapt to a new club because I already know how it works. And, of course, playing every week is what I've missed the most.”

Borini feels ready to start for Sunderland if Dick Advocaat asks him to having maintained a high level of fitness throughout his frustrations. He also played more than an hour in a behind-closed-door game to build up his match sharpness.

He said: “I didn't want to wait until the end of August because it meant training on my own for a month at Liverpool. The sooner it came the better.

“But I had to wait until the end because I felt that way that I could put myself in the best position possible to make the right decision.

“It was really upsetting to be training on my own. It was the killer that led me to leave Liverpool. I always gave everything for the club and I showed that on the pitch and in training. Everyone knows within that club that I did everything and never complained.”

As well as an offer to join West Ham and the well documented interest from Italian clubs Fiorentina and Inter Milan, Borini is adamant Sunderland were always high in his thinking despite claims to the contrary.

“I can name all the clubs that came for me and it's quite a lot. There were clubs that haven't been named,” he said. “I made the decision that I wanted to make because I want to play football. That's the most important thing.

“I could have made a decision in June when teams were after me, when I wanted to get back to playing. But I didn't do anything then because I didn't think it was the right decision.”

He added: “Inter Milan was a bit harder because there are more players there and it's a big club, with lots of history.

“It would have been like Liverpool has been for me probably. You don't know, as far as you make that decision. But I'm happy to be here because I can play football and that's what I wanted and what I missed the most. Sunderland could give me my football back.”

Sunderland, who he scored ten goals for during his previous loan stint, are still looking for a first win in the league this season but have shown signs of improvements after back-to-back draws.

Borini thinks the summer signings made by Advocaat has significantly improved a squad which, he says, is capable of climbing away from trouble.

“The start to the season here has been hard, as always!” said Borini, with a smile. “But I can see the quality within the team. You can see it in training over the last couple of days, even though all the internationals haven't been back.

“We just need to get together and get used to playing together. Once we do that, I don't think it will be a problem.”

And Borini hopes performing well for Sunderland will ensure he reclaims a place in an Italy squad hardly blessed with top class strikers at the moment.

“For sure I want to get back in the Italy squad,” he said. “Looking back at the previous games and the players that Italy have up front, they hardly play, unfortunately for us. You can see the results.

“Look at England, every player up front plays regularly and that makes it more difficult for Italy. Coming back to a positive environment like Sunderland, compared to Liverpool, makes it easier for me with playing every week.”