VITO MANNONE has admitted he is ahead of schedule in his drive to get back to full fitness and is desperate to help Sunderland’s battle to avoid another end of season struggle against relegation.

Mannone has not played since rupturing his elbow ligaments in late August, just days after ending up on the losing side against Middlesbrough at the Stadium of Light.

The Italian goalkeeper, who could face a battle to get back into the team given the performances of Jordan Pickford, has stepped up his recovery this week at the club’s Academy of Light training complex.

That has not eased the mood he has felt watching Sunderland struggle to get off the ground in the Premier League under David Moyes.

He said: “It’s been frustrating, I am passionate about my football and my team. Watching from the stands wasn’t easy. I have been a fan, but I know I am a player and it’s frustrating not to be able to give my all for the team.

“We expected better and we understand the frustrations of the fans sometimes. All I can say is there has been a lot of work on the training pitch and the manager is helping us to get these results. Hopefully this win will come and it will change the way it has been in the last three or four years.”

Since conceding four goals in defeats to Manchester City and Middlesbrough, Mannone has since watched further reversals against Everton, Tottenham and Crystal Palace from the sidelines. Sunderland have also drawn with West Brom and Southampton.

He is looking forward to the day he can push Pickford – and transfer window recruit Mika from Boavista – for a starting place again under Moyes.

Mannone told the club’s website: “It’s been hard. It was a challenge. As soon as I got injured, it was the first real injury I have had in my career. I have embraced the challenge and will try to come back stronger.

“I have put in a lot of work behind the scenes, working on my flexibility of the arm and elbow. I am getting stronger and pushing hard on my legs too. I have been worked hard, trained like I have never done before. Hopefully this training will help me come back as strong as I have before.

“We had a plan from the beginning. I have had people around me. I have had double sessions every day. There have been some sweaty days. I have had the best outcome so far I could have had, which is positive.

“I had my operation and the surgeon told me to straight away to work on flexibility and power. Since day one I have worked hard to get my flexibility back. I am ahead of schedule. That’s a good thing. I am feeling really strong. Hopefully I will progress really quickly and I can get out and help my team.”

Mannone should be in contention for a return in the next six weeks and Sunderland will hope to have climbed away from the relegation zone before then having collected just two points from seven games.

Moyes is considering ways of improving his squad in the January transfer window and it has emerged West ham United and Everton could be ready to battle it out for Lamine Kone.

Sunderland will be reluctant to sell a key player at such a crucial stage of the campaign and they stood firm in the summer when the Toffees made offers up to £21m for Kone.

Spanish side Espanyol are keeping an eye on Wahbi Khazri’s situation. The Tunisian has found it difficult to start under Moyes and there have been suggestions abroad he could leave after Christmas if things haven’t improved.