Fulop - Fight is good for team

Fulop: Enjoying first-team role

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Sunderland goalkeeper Marton Fulop believes that his duel with Craig Gordon for the Black Cats' number one spot will benefit both players.

A string of impressive performances has kept Fulop in the starting line-up even after Scotland international Gordon recovered from injury.

The Hungarian is used to being second choice at the Stadium of Light but is now enjoying keeping the £9million player on the bench.

"When I came back to Sunderland from Leicester I was behind Craig and I think I made him better because I was fighting for the number one-spot and pushed him from behind," Fulop told www.origu.hu.

Lucky

"Sunderland are lucky to have two goalkeepers of a similar level. I'm trying to stay in the line-up but I think it's great that a record signing is on the bench behind me."

Gordon has recently stated that he was frustrated not to regain his place between the posts, fearing that he may be dropped from the Scottish national side if he remains a substitute.

Fulop is familiar with the situation and expressed support for his team-mate.

"I have said the same in the past, fortunately this time I'm on the other side," the 26-year-old added.

Ambitions

"I want him to stay the first choice for Scotland but I have ambitions too, in the Hungarian national team. There's a condition: I must play at Sunderland."

Despite the competition between the two players, Fulop insists he is still friends with Gordon, and that their fight for a starting place is to the side's advantage.

He said: "I have a good relationship with Gordon, we sit next to each other in the dressing room but I feel that talking about who is the first-choice goalkeeper is a taboo for us.

"He's doing his best to try and prove he should be in the team and I think it has a positive effect on the team if two footballers compete for one place.

"It is the manager's dream to have to good players in the same position."