AFTER eight months on the sidelines Matt Piper cannot wait to kick a ball in anger.

The Sunderland winger has been plagued by a long-term knee injury but after travelling to the US to visit top surgeon Richard Steadman in the summer it appears the problem has been solved.

The 23-year-old, who has made just 12 league appearances for the Black Cats in two years since moving from Leicester, is set to play in his first competitive match tomorrow night when Sunderland's reserves take on Manchester United at Altrincham.

It has been a long road back and there have been highs and lows but Piper's desire to show the fans what they have been missing has driven him on.

"I take every day as it comes but there have been days where I have probably let it get to me," he said. "But on the whole I think I have dealt with it as well as I could have done. I am just really looking forward to getting fit, that is what has kept me going."

After such a long time out there's always some trepidation attached to that first full-contact training session and Piper remembers his first 50-50 ball well.

"That was the first real tackle," he said. "I don't remember who it was with but obviously they just see the ball and go to tackle.

"They don't see that it's me. They went in fully and so did I. I think I lost the tackle but it felt good. It was a weight lifted because I got confidence from that.

"Tackling is not my game but I have been going in normally ever since."

Piper says he believes he is still a month away from being available for first team duty but is hopeful it will come sooner rather than later.

"The reserve game on Thursday is my first game for seven or eight months and I am really looking forward to it," he said. "Hopefully I will come through it fine and then I can go on from there and try to get myself back in the first team and help us to get into the Premiership.

"Obviously I have not been at my best because of my injuries but I think the fans have been pleased with what they have seen and I know I can give more."

Meanwhile, striker Stephen Elliott has expressed his surprise at his call-up to the Republic of Ireland squad.

A string of excellent performances from the 20-year-old have seen him catapulted into the senior international set-up just months after finally earning regular first-team football at the Stadium of Light.

His eight goals to date have left him keeping his fingers crossed as his country heads into friendly battle with Croatia next week, and his dream is closer to coming true.

''I got a letter from the FAI yesterday when I arrived at the training ground and it confirmed that I had been called up,'' he said.

''I had to look at it twice because it's what I've been working for.

''All my life, I've wanted to play for my country and I didn't really believe it when I read it. I'm obviously delighted and my mobile phone was ringing all day yesterday.

''I would love to play some part in the game next week.

" I've been to Lansdowne Road many times as a supporter. It's a special place.''

Elliott missed the Black Cats' 2-0 Coca-Cola Championship defeat at Millwall on Friday night with a foot injury, but is hopeful of a return at Leicester on Saturday.

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