CARL Robinson last night revealed that his international ambitions were behind a permanent move to Sunderland.

The midfielder is expected to sign on the dotted line later today after he was granted a free transfer by previous club Portsmouth.

Robinson impressed during a two-month loan spell at the Stadium of Light that saw him make nine appearances for the Black Cats and score the winner against First Division champions Norwich.

The 27-year-old finished the season by playing in both of Wales' recent friendlies against Norway and Canada, taking his tally of caps for Mark Hughes' side to 16.

Robinson is desperate to play a part in Wales' attempts to qualify for 2006's World Cup from a group that also includes England and Northern Ireland.

And, by joining Sunderland, he feels he has given himself every chance of holding down a place in Hughes' first team.

"The most important thing for me is to be playing regularly and I got that coming to Sunderland," said Robinson, who also spent time at Rotherham and Sheffield United last season.

"If you are playing well for your club then international recognition comes after that.

"I've not really spoken to Mark Hughes about it, but I'm sure that my international prospects would be helped if I was playing at Sunderland next season.

"They are a massive club and would get me a lot of exposure should I come here.

"I think it would help make an impression.

"I wasn't playing at Portsmouth and I want to be playing first-team football. I'm not the sort of player who just wants to sit around collecting my money."

Robinson is the latest player to commit himself to Wearside after the capture of former Manchester City youngster Stephen Elliott last week.

Centre-half Stephen Caldwell will join when his current Newcastle contract expires on July 1, while Mick McCarthy is continuing to chase other targets in preparation for another assault on the Premiership. Mansfield midfielder Liam Lawrence is at the top of his list, with Sunderland poised to make the 22-year-old a formal offer this week.

The Stags would be due a compensation payment for Lawrence, but that is unlikely to prevent McCarthy pursuing his interest in a player who scored 22 goals last season.

Jeff Whitley is understood to be close to signing the contract he was offered just two days after his penalty miss consigned Sunderland to another season in Division One.

But Tommy Smith, Darren Byfield and John Oster are still weighing up their options before putting pen to paper on a new deal.

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