Kavanagh Shuns Owls Links

Sunderland midfielder Graham Kavanagh has revealed he wants to fight for his place on Wearside following rumours linking him with a loan switch to Hillsborough.

The Owls have endured a disastrous start to their new campaign and it was thought boss Brian Laws could turn to the 33-year-old former Cardiff City man to bolster the Wednesday midfield.

But Kavanagh met with Mackems boss Roy Keane to discuss his future at the Stadium of Light, and hopes to be back in Keane's plans after returning from injury recently.

Kavanagh told the official Sunderland website: "The fitness is really good. I've played seven or eight games now and it is improving all the time.

"I'd like to think I'm part of the manager's plans. I certainly don't want to leave the club and I'm looking to play a big part.

"I felt the manager had lost a bit of confidence in me because I wasn't as fit as I would have liked. I hadn't had the games and I wasn't up to match speed.

"We discussed possibly going on loan for a month, having some games and coming back and being 100 per cent ready for the first team.

"The four weeks have passed now, I've played for the reserves and I feel the fitness is improving all the time.

"There has been speculation the last few days about going on loan but we'll have to see what happens."

Laws has already snapped up experienced Derby defender Michael Johnson on a one-month loan deal but it looks like he may have to focus his midfield attentions elsewhere with it looking likely that Kavanagh will be staying put.

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