JEREMAIN LENS has told the Sunderland hierarchy he does not want to return to Wearside at the end of his current loan spell – because the Black Cats ‘are not in a position to challenge for trophies’.

Lens joined Turkish side Fenerbahce on a season-long loan in August, having rapidly fallen out of favour during his 12 months as a Sunderland player following an £8m move from Dynamo Kiev.

The Dutch winger scored four goals in 24 appearances for the Black Cats, and was repeatedly criticised by former boss Sam Allardyce for a lack of application and professionalism.

He appeared under David Moyes in pre-season, but was sent out on loan after making a couple of substitute appearances against Middlesbrough and Southampton at the start of the campaign.

The change of scenery has clearly been beneficial, with Lens scoring two goals and providing five assists in his eight appearances for Fenerbahce.

He scored with a superb free-kick in a Europa League game with Manchester United, and has reclaimed his place in Holland’s national team, and his thoughts are already turning to the end of the season, when he does not want to be returning to Sunderland.

“I don’t know what will happen (at the end of the season),” said Lens. “It’s not only depending on me, there are other factors, but here at Fenerbahce we are challenging for trophies.

“No disrespect to them, but this was not the case when I played for Sunderland. Every player wants to play for silverware. If you ask me if I want to stay at Fenerbahce, then it’s 100 per cent yes. But as I’ve said before, there are other factors.”

Sunderland will be more than willing to sell Lens permanently next summer, although his performances in Turkey will have strengthened their determination to at least recoup the money they spent to sign the 28-year-old in the summer of 2015.

That could create a problem, with Turkey’s Super Lig not in a particularly strong financial position, although with Fenerbahce currently sitting in third position, the situation would be eased if the Istanbul-based club were to qualify for the Champions League.

“I’m enjoying my time at Fenerbahce so far,” added Lens. “I have had a couple of injuries and I have to be careful, but if I’m on the pitch, I’ll always give my 100 per cent.

“That’s my style, and I want to thank every Fenerbahce fan for the love they’ve shown me so far. I am enjoying it here. This is a really, really big club with passionate fans.”

While Lens increasingly looks a part of Sunderland’s past, Jan Kirchhoff is hoping to feature in the club’s immediate future after successfully coming through the full 90 minutes of Monday night’s Under-23s win at Manchester United.

Kirchhoff scored as Sunderland’s development team claimed a 2-0 win, and having been sidelined on two separate occasions already this season, the German midfielder is hoping his injury problems are finally at an end.

Having suffered a hamstring injury in pre-season, Kirchhoff suffered a recurrence after playing five games in 20 days in September and October, and he accepts he might have tried to do too much, too soon, something he is determined to avoid repeating this time around.

“I’ve had a lot of injuries this year, and I feel like this is my third pre-season now,” said Kirchhoff. “So I’m pleased to be back on the pitch and pleased to be healthy and fit.

“To be injured isn’t nice because you can’t help the guys on the pitch every weekend. Just not being part of the squad isn’t the best feeling, but that’s how football is sometimes.

“You have a little bit of bad luck, and I think when I played the 90 minutes before, maybe it was a little bit too early after my long injury.

“For me, the only thing that counts now is trying to stay fit, improve my fitness levels and stay healthy – they’re the most important things.”

Kirchhoff’s return represents a timely boost given Lee Cattermole’s four-month absence following hip surgery, but the German remains uncertain whether he will be able to make a first-team return in Saturday’s game at Liverpool.

“We will see,” he said. “It has been a hard week for me. I had double sessions on Monday and Tuesday, and then worked through the week fully. I haven’t had a break for ten days, so we’ll see how I’m feeling during the week. I’ll recover, and see how it goes towards the weekend.”