LAURENS de Bock is hoping history is not about to repeat itself as he bids to get his career back on track at Sunderland.

The Belgian defender made only his third appearance in a Black Cats shirt when they lost 2-1 to Leicester City’s Under-21s in the EFL Trophy.

De Bock is out to impress new manager Phil Parkinson having only been signed by Jack Ross in early September on loan from Leeds United.

During his 18-month stint at Leeds he was also hit with an early managerial change and that ended up having a negative impact on his chances of succeeding at Elland Road.

After joining Leeds, Thomas Christiansen was sacked after three weeks and then Paul Heckingbottom last until the end of the season. Marcelo Bielsa was appointed and de Bock was farmed out on loan to Oostende having only made seven league starts for Leeds.

Now de Bock, fit again after missing the first few games under Parkinson, is out to impress a new manager once again – and he hopes it goes better than the last time.

"It's a pity, but it's not the first time I've been in this situation,” said de Bock. “I've had it before when I've come to a new club and then after two weeks, a new manager comes in. It's never easy, but I'm just trying to prove myself in training.

“Just now, I needed the 90 minutes for my fitness levels against Leicester so I think I just have to keep in mind that I played 90 minutes and forget the result. This is the selfish way, but it is always nicer to come back in the nice way.

"It's up to me to improve and to prove myself to the coach. I think there will be more opportunities coming and also in training, I need to keep working hard.

“The manager has to pick and also Denver Hume is playing very well now, so it's up to me to show him that I also want to play."

Hume returned to the side when de Bock picked up a thigh muscle problem at Lincoln on October 5. He had started promisingly too, with positive performances inn victories over Sheffield United and MK Dons.

The 26-year-old is effectively competing with Hume, three years younger than him, for the right to play full-back in League One ahead of this Saturday’s visit of Gillingham to the Stadium of Light in the FA Cup.

De Bock said: "I'm professional and I have some experience already. I'm pleased for him that he's showing this level, it's good for the team and now it's up to me."

Where Hume is emerging and only now starting to enjoy a run in the first team at the Stadium of Light, de Bock’s career has already seen him play in the Champions League with Club Brugge before his move to England in January last year.

And de Bock is well aware of the importance of having plenty of options inn the squad to sustain good results to deliver higher league finishes.

He said: "In this league you have so many games, so everybody in this team needs to be ready to play. I think you need to have at least two players on every position, so everyone will get enough minutes and I think the more players that are fit the better for the coach and team.

"As always it's better to come back from injury in the team with a win. It's a pity that we didn't win on Tuesday, but we have to work as a team together and now I'm back I can help the team just to improve and step up and win the games.”