THE prospect of returning to the Championship may be looming large but Nyron Nosworthy feels there is not one member of the Sunderland squad with eyes on a summer move away from the Stadium of Light.

If, or rather when, the Black Cats' fate is decided and they return to the Football League after just one year away, there is sure to be interest in a selection of the playing staff.

Julio Arca, George McCartney and Dean Whitehead are just three of those to have received attention in the past from higher-ranked clubs and are sure to be the subject of interest again.

Relegation is likely to mean Sunderland will need to cash in on some of their players if manager Mick McCarthy, providing he is still in charge, wants to tinker in the transfer market during the summer.

But Nosworthy, a free-transfer signing from Gillingham in the last close-season, insists none of the relegation-threatened squad are contemplating life away from Wearside.

"Because most of us have come from lower leagues the team spirit is a lot different to many other places," said the 25-year-old. "We're just trying really hard, no-one's thinking about playing elsewhere next season.

"We just want to win some games and put a smile on people's faces. It's hard losing and knowing we've got another top team to play next. You get disappointed after each defeat but you've got to go back out and play, train again and get back into it.

"You can see the league table every day but you've just got to take each game as it comes. There's only one way for us to go.

"Everyone gets upset when you are losing every week. It's not nice to play in a losing team. The fans are the same really. You do have a couple who let out their frustration when things don't go well but generally I think they're behind us."

Having spent seven years at Gillingham before gaining his dream move to the top-flight in the summer, Nosworthy is depressed at the prospect of his big chance at the top slipping away.

And, after playing six months in the Premiership, he has quickly realised how huge is the divide between the Football League and the top tier of the English game.

But he feels he has become a better player for his experiences of mixing it with some of the best players in the world.

"Every player wants to aim for the Premier League, even when you're at a smaller club like I was," said Nosworthy, who is expected to start against Tottenham on Sunday because of Stephen Wright's suspension.

"I wasn't so much shell-shocked to be given my chance at this level but I was determined to make the most of it. It's quick and if you make a mistake you get punished.

"You want to test yourself against the best. It has proved to me I can play at this level. I think I need to improve my distribution and decision making.

"In the Football League you can get away with just concentrating on defending but in the Premiership you have to be able to pass the ball because teams really target you otherwise."

The injury sustained by Wright in the opening day defeat to Charlton opened the door for Nosworthy to enjoy a good run in the side.

After being taken out of the firing line for a brief spell to accommodate loanee Justin Hoyte, the Brixton-born full-back is looking forward to being a part of things again having returned to the scene on Saturday when he came on a substitute at West Ham for his 20th Premiership appearance.

"I've been pleased with the way it's gone from a personal point of view," said Nosworthy, who knows McCarthy could also choose to recall Hoyte against Spurs.

"Sunderland got here without me but I still feel a part of things and I want to keep us in this division."

Read more about Sunderland here.