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Tainio keen to impress boss Keane
Sunderland midfielder Teemu Tainio has admitted that he has the stamina frustrating season so far at the Light.
The Finn, 28, made only four starts for the club since joining in July, but is ready to fight for his place in the Wearsiders' midfield.
"It was not the best of starts for me and, of course, not for the team or the other," he told BBC Radio Newcastle.
"Everybody wants to play and I must show that for the manager in training and I hope he will choose."
The Finnish international earned a winners medal as part of Juande Ramos Tottenham Hotspur side that lifted the Carling Cup against Chelsea in February.
Tainio and wishes to repeat its experience of playing at Wembley under manager Roy Keane - from Wednesday Carling Cup fourth round tie against Blackburn Rovers.
"It's nice to win trophies, I had a chance to win with Spurs, and it was a great feeling to play at Wembley before 80,000 people and win The Game," he said.
"We want to do it again, now we have a difficult match tomorrow, we want to go through this game and we must show that we can play well at home.
"When you see, there are only 16, eight or four teams left, you know you're not far, but every game is a Cup final - if you lose, you are."
Tainio joined Sunderland from Tottenham in July 2008 and made 28 appearances for his country, scoring three goals.
by bbcnews.
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