Leadbitter out to make mark

Sunderland star back to fitness

By Lewis Rutledge   Last updated: 6th September 2007

Leadbitter out to make mark

Leadbitter: Back to fitness

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Sunderland midfielder Grant Leadbitter is determined to make an impression in the Premier League after recovering from injury.

Leadbitter missed the start of the season with a hamstring problem but returned as a substitute in the 2-0 loss to Liverpool.

He then started the Carling Cup game with Luton and the Premier League clash against Manchester United, but could not stop The Black Cats from slipping to two more defeats.

Leadbitter does not want Sunderland to be involved in a relegation battle and is already looking forward to the next match against Reading on 15th September.

"I'm fine now. The hamstring's not a problem and I'm a young lad so general fitness shouldn't be a problem," he told the Sunderland Echo.

"I should be able to blast about the pitch all day. I just wish the results could have been better for everyone, but it's good to be involved again.

Hoping to avoid scrap

"Any defeat hurts and I wished there was a game to play last Sunday so we could try to get our last result out of our systems.

"We've not come into the Premier League to end up with a scrap again. We want to do well so we've taken the defeats badly - it doesn't matter if they were against Liverpool, Man Utd or Luton."

With skipper Dean Whitehead ruled out for most of the season, Leadbitter knows there will be more responsibility on him to perform well.

"I'd like to play every game and it's up to me to show the gaffer that I can do that in the Premier League.

"There's plenty of competition and that's a great challenge for me and everyone."