Gus Poyet has Sunderland regret and wants Premier League job

Gus Poyet has deliberately left open his future with AEK Athens because he wants a return to management in the Premier League.

The 47-year-old was sacked by Sunderland last spring and took over the newly-promoted side last October and has taken them to second in the Greek Superleague this season.

But Poyet's contract expires at the end of the season and he keeps an open dialogue with Athens president Evangelos Aslanidis.

"I've commit myself to a club that gives me the chance to win things, but I've committed myself in the short term," Poyet told Sky Sports.

I do certain things thinking 'maybe I could be here', but at the same time my aim is to get back to the Premier League - no doubt.

"The future is open, nobody knows where I will be next year, I do certain things thinking 'maybe I could be here', but at the same time my aim is to get back to the Premier League - no doubt."

Poyet was dismissed by Sunderland with the team 17th in the Premier League and one point above the relegation zone following a 4-0 thrashing by Aston Villa in March 2015.

The Uruguayan, who has also managed Brighton and was assistant to Juande Ramos at his former playing club Tottenham, says there is not much he would have changed about his time on Wearside and insists he feels refreshed after leaving the UK.

"I'm a realistic person. I know the risk of football managers and how it works. The only thing I was disappointed with myself, in the second year, not to make the team play in the way I wanted," he said.

"I needed to get out of England. I was focused too much on what happened in England over many, many years.

"I wanted to open myself up and see if things that we are convinced of in England work, and check on different football and a different mentality, more European. So far I have to say that it does work."