KEIREN Westwood has admitted he will look to leave Sunderland this summer if he does not receive some assurances about his involvement in the first team.

Westwood's only senior appearances last season came in the Capital One Cup, and Martin O'Neill prevented him leaving Wearside on loan.

He started Republic of Ireland's friendly with Georgia at the weekend, but will revert to his role as reserve behind David Forde when Giovanni Trapattoni's side take on the Faroe Islands in a World Cup qualifier on Friday evening.

Westwood has previously hinted at a desire to leave Wearside in order to further his career, and his latest comments suggest he does not see how he can remain in his current position as number two to Simon Mignolet.

“I love it at Sunderland and I do think I have improved there,” said the **-year-old. “But it is going to be very difficult for me if I am not playing. We'll see what happens in the close season.

“I literally cannot get into the Sunderland team because Simon has done so well, and I accept that. I understand Premier League clubs need two good keepers and I have tried to take positives from the last year, but it has not been an easy time and I can't hide from that.

“There have been some dark times when it really has felt like there's no light at the end of the tunnel. Sometimes you're in a dark place, on your own, nowhere to turn.

“I have been very fortunate there has been progression in my career. I'm lucky that over seven years since I started playing first-team football at Carlisle, I've won titles and been in teams of the year, moved to the Premier League and played for Ireland.

“I always knew, as good as it was, at some point there would be a period which was tough. Nothing can really prepare you for it, and it has been extremely tough and tested me as a person.”

Trapattoni worked with Paolo Di Canio at Juventus, and while the Ireland manager has been careful to tread the fine line between the concerns of club and country, he admits it is impossible to pick Westwood for key matches when he is not playing regularly for Sunderland.

“He can decide his life and if he wants to play,” said the Ireland boss. “They have agents, who are important. Any maybe there is a club where he can go – the league doesn't matter.

“It's important a goalkeeper plays. The goalkeeper needs every sensation as they are alone on the pitch, so they must play.”

Ends>Meanwhile, Keiren Westwood has admitted he will look to leave Sunderland this summer if he does not receive some assurances about his involvement in the first team.

Westwood's only senior appearances last season came in the Capital One Cup, and Martin O'Neill prevented him leaving Wearside on loan.

He started Republic of Ireland's friendly with Georgia at the weekend, but will revert to his role as reserve behind David Forde when Giovanni Trapattoni's side take on the Faroe Islands in a World Cup qualifier on Friday evening.

Westwood has previously hinted at a desire to leave Wearside in order to further his career, and his latest comments suggest he does not see how he can remain in his current position as number two to Simon Mignolet.

“I love it at Sunderland and I do think I have improved there,” said the **-year-old. “But it is going to be very difficult for me if I am not playing. We'll see what happens in the close season.

“I literally cannot get into the Sunderland team because Simon has done so well, and I accept that. I understand Premier League clubs need two good keepers and I have tried to take positives from the last year, but it has not been an easy time and I can't hide from that.

“There have been some dark times when it really has felt like there's no light at the end of the tunnel. Sometimes you're in a dark place, on your own, nowhere to turn.

“I have been very fortunate there has been progression in my career. I'm lucky that over seven years since I started playing first-team football at Carlisle, I've won titles and been in teams of the year, moved to the Premier League and played for Ireland.

“I always knew, as good as it was, at some point there would be a period which was tough. Nothing can really prepare you for it, and it has been extremely tough and tested me as a person.”

Trapattoni worked with Paolo Di Canio at Juventus, and while the Ireland manager has been careful to tread the fine line between the concerns of club and country, he admits it is impossible to pick Westwood for key matches when he is not playing regularly for Sunderland.

“He can decide his life and if he wants to play,” said the Ireland boss. “They have agents, who are important. Any maybe there is a club where he can go – the league doesn't matter.

“It's important a goalkeeper plays. The goalkeeper needs every sensation as they are alone on the pitch, so they must play.”