Cisse seeks permanent deal

French star hopes to impress Keane

By Chris Burton   Last updated: 24th August 2008

djibril cisse sunderland

Cisse: Debut delight

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Sunderland's loan star Djibril Cisse is hoping to earn a permanent contract at Stadium of Light.

The France international made an immediate impact on his return to England, bagging the Black Cats' winner in a 2-1 victory over Tottenham on Saturday.

The powerful hit-man is set to spend the rest of the season in the North East, and has made no secret of his desire to secure a move away from Marseille.

Roy Keane will be hoping that the former Liverpool man can repeat his debut heroics throughout the 2008/09 campaign, while Cisse is aiming to persuade his new boss that he is worth a full-time deal.

"I want to do my best and try to make it permanent," said Cisse.

"I had a few options but I chose Sunderland because of the manager. The club have big ambitions and really good players.

"Nobody expects Sunderland to be a good team but I know the boys now and really want to show we're a good team and do well. We can surprise a lot of teams like we did against Spurs."

Strong stance

Keane believes his latest recruit possesses the necessary personality traits to ensure that he is a success on Wearside.

However, while he is delighted to have a player of Cisse's calibre on board, he has hit out at the actions of Spurs star Dimitar Berbatov.

The Bulgarian sat out Saturday's clash with Sunderland as the speculation linking him with a move to Manchester United lingers on, a situation which Keane admits he would not be prepared to tolerate.

"If a player didn't want to play for me, I know what I'd do - I'd drive him myself to wherever he wants to go," said the outspoken Irishman.

"I've said it before, no player is bigger than any club.

"Sometimes you have to lose to win - Tottenham have lost against Sunderland but long-term it might be best for the business.

"I had a player two years ago when I got my job, I heard he had been speaking to another club within a week or two and I just sold him. And off he popped."