CALUM DAVENPORT has revealed he wants to play for Sunderland in the Premier League next season.

The 26-year-old centre back, currently on loan from West Ham, is a veteran of eight clubs and is desperate to call a halt to his days as a footballing nomad and set up permanent home at Sunderland.

Davenport is haunted by memories of his professional debut with Coventry City – an end of season game that saw the Midlands club relegated.

He has also suffered the drop while on loan with Southampton.

But the defender is determined not to endure a hattrick of relegations as he plays to secure both his own and Sunderland’s, future.

“Since I’ve been up here, I’ve loved every minute of it,”

confirmed Davenport whose loan switch from the Hammers will expire at the end of this season.

“Everybody from the manager to the tea ladies have been unbelievable. So if I can stay, I’ll be delighted, but the main thing is getting results first and seeing what happens in the summer.”

Despite hailing from bucolic Bedfordshire, Davenport grew accustomed to the chaotic pace of London life after spells with West Ham and Tottenham. And he admitted the tranquillity of his Durham home was disconcerting after the buzz of the capital.

“It’s a lot quieter up here, there’s no traffic. I keep wondering if it’s a bank holiday,”

joked the defender who started his career with Coventry before his high-profile switch to Spurs. But Davenport is not keen on returning to London and hoped his burgeoning partnership with Anton Ferdinand can help secure both a long-term contract and Sunderland’s top-flight status.

“I’ve had a lot injury problems and being at Tottenham ...it was a massive club. It forced me to go out on loan to play week in, week out. If I can find somewhere where I’m settled and happy, as I feel I am here, I’ll be happy.

“I’ve come here to play football and do what I can to help the club. But I want to play well week in, week out in the Premier League. Hopefully, I can do that in the remaining games.”

A clean sheet in last Saturday’s narrow victory over Hull City earned Davenport man of the match reviews to boost his chances of securing a longterm deal at Sunderland. With Tal Ben-Haim and Nyron Nosworthy pressing for a recall to central defence, Davenport hopes his aerial prowess will persuade Sbragia to hand him an extended run in the side.

“First and foremost, my job is defending our box. But being the size I am, I try to get up the other end and get on a few things. Hopefully I’ll be able to nick one before the end of the season. I’ll take a 5-4 (against West Brom) if I’m on the scoresheet. It’s a game we think we should win,” he said.

After being part of a Hammers side defeated 3-2 by the Baggies earlier this season, Davenport has warned teammates of the Midland side’s goal threat.

“I was saying to the lads, they’re a team who trust each other with the ball, pass and move, pull you into areas and pop it around you. I was very impressed with them that day.

We’re going to have to be nice and compact down there.

Whereas the game at the weekend was played at a high tempo, we’ll have to give them a bit of respect in terms of their quality on the ball, even though they are bottom of the league. We might have to nick it off them and hit them quick with Djib and Kenwyne’s pace.

“My Coventry debut was the last game of the season when they got relegated. I joined Southampton on loan at the back end of the season when I was 21 and we got relegated.

I stayed up with West Ham on the last day when we beat Man United so I’ve got a little bit of experience, I know what it’s all about, it’s just keeping your composure and belief and I’m sure we’ll be all right.”