SUNDERLAND'S forgotten man Anton Ferdinand will battle on to continue his Black Cats career - insisting that he has no interest in departing the Stadium of Light this summer.

Despite talk linking him with a move away from the Stadium of Light in the wake of the addition of John O’Shea and Wes Brown to the Wearsiders’ squad, the defender intends to give Steve Bruce a “problem” when it comes to team selec-tion next season.

Chris Hughton’s Birmingham and former club West Ham have been credited with an interest in Ferdinand – in the last year of his Stadium of Light contract – but he believes there is a future with the Black Cats.

He remains adamant that he can fulfil his desire for first-team football in the red-and-white of Sunderland. “I want to stay,” he told The Journal. “It doesn’t faze me to see those sorts of things written about me or said about me. Every summer of my career I’ve been linked with moves from the club I’ve been at.

“Ever since I broke into the first team at West Ham that has been happening to me. My only concern is getting myself fit for the new season and continuing to work my hardest for Sunderland. I’m sure people will tell you that around the training ground I’m not distracted, I just want to do my best for the football club. I remain committed, I just want to be in the best condition possible.”