Stokes is fired up to be hit with Cats

Mar 2 2009 By Mark Douglas, The Journal

It will not be easy – Kenwyne Jones and Djibril Cisse have been Sunderland’s main weapon in the fight against the drop this season.

And when either is injured – Jones remains a doubt for tomorrow’s trip to Anfield – David Healy is the obvious next option for Sbragia.

It has left Stokes pondering whether another loan move might be the answer, although he remains keen to make an impression on the Sunderland manager.

"It’s going to be very difficult for me," he admitted. "The team is doing well, the two strikers are doing well as well. If I keep doing well in reserve games and training then hopefully I’ll have a chance of getting back into it.

"There has always been plenty of competition at the club – it was like that even when Keane was there. It’s good for the team, but obviously doesn’t make it that easy for me.

"So while I’m glad to be back, obviously I want first-team games.

"The manager hasn’t really said much to me. He just said ‘work hard in training’ and we’ll see where we go from there. It was a bit frustrating under the previous manager. I scored twice against Northampton then went out on loan so I couldn’t really kick on from there. There’s been a big change since then and it’s a big opportunity for us all."

Stokes now sees the next month as being potentially crucial to his Sunderland future, although he is contracted to the Black Cats until 2011.

"If another loan move came around and I wasn’t playing enough games, I’d have to look at it," Stokes said.

"But for the time being I’m back at Sunderland and trying to earn my place back in the team. It’ll just depend on what happens over the next few weeks.

"I need to get my fitness and match sharpness back up, to be honest. I need to play in reserve games and go and do as well as I can in those games.

"If I can get more games under my belt, we’ll take it from there."