nICKLAS Bendtner insists he has not closed the door on a permanent move to Sunderland despite his desire to return to the Champions League.

Bendtner is three months into a season-long loan from Arsenal, with Black Cats boss Steve Bruce already having confirmed his desire to sign the striker on a long-term basis next summer.

The prospects of such a deal appeared to recede considerably earlier this month when Bendtner was quoted in his native Denmark claiming his next employers would have to be able to offer Champions League football for him to leave the Emirates.

However, the 23-year-old claims his comments were not as clear cut as has been widely reported, and while he continues to harbour ambitions of a return to Europe's premier club competition eventually, he has not ruled out an extended stay at the Stadium of Light.

"I've never hidden the fact that I'm very keen to play in the Champions League again," said Bendtner. "But I also read that I'd said if I don't play in the Champions League, I won't be playing for Sunderland.

"That's not the case, but that's how they do it. They always mis-interpret Danish into English.

"As a player you should have ambition - I'm sure every player you speak to wants to play in the Champions League. But I haven't ruled out staying here at Sunderland. As I've said before, I just want to enjoy the year I have here and then see what happens in the summer."

As well as persuading Bendtner to remain on Wearside, Sunderland officials would also have to overcome a number of financial obstacles in order to secure the striker on a permanent basis.

Arsenal are expected to demand more than £10m for a player who scored in both of his international outings this month, while Bendtner's wage demands, which are expected to exceed £50,000-a-week, would also present problems.

Nevertheless, with Asamoah Gyan unlikely to return to the North-East at the end of his own loan deal with Al-Ain, Bruce is keen to retain a player who has already emerged as the figurehead of a new-look Sunderland side at an embryonic stage of its evolution.

So often an after thought at Arsenal, Bendtner can already claim to be absolutely integral to the Black Cats.

He has scored two goals in his last five matches, and appears to be the only player capable of leading the line in the absence of Connor Wickham, who is likely to remain sidelined for at least another month.

With Sunderland's midfield lacking a degree of creative inspiration, Bendtner is charged with the task of scoring the goals that will catapult the club up the Premier League table.

A naturally confident personality, he is unconcerned about the pressure. But having been part of an Arsenal side that prided itself on the quality of its football, he admits it is a shock to the system when his entire output is judged solely on his success in front of goal.

"I am enjoying being the focal point," he said. "I don't mind that at all. But as well as you can sit and talk about things here, people will always look at how many goals you have scored. They don't look at your overall play.

"I have sort of realised that, all people are concerned about is goals, goals, goals. You can play horrific but if you score goals, it doesn't matter. That's very new to me. I tend to look at my overall play, so it's a new mentality."

Whatever way he is judged, though, Bendtner insists Sunderland supporters are yet to see the best of him.

He was short of match practice when he arrived on Wearside, and while he has only missed the trip to Arsenal since, when he was ineligible, three separate international breaks have disrupted the rhythm of his settling-in period.

There is no more international football until February, and with a particularly busy December looming, Bendtner is looking forward to getting into a groove with his new employers.

"There's definitely more to come, 100 per cent," he said. "I think that it's going to be a natural development going forward because it's been a while since I played.

"But I'm seeing the signs, especially when I was away with the international team. It's going really well, so I just want to win a few more games and add to my goal tally.

"I always knew it would be better to play as many games as I could. No player is happy when they're on the bench.

"I speak to other players with big clubs as well, and they say the same as I do. No one is satisfied when they're on the bench when they feel they should be playing. It's not ideal.

"That's why I'm happy to be here playing football and helping Sunderland do well."