On-loan Liverpool forward Fabio Borini believes his Wembley strike in the League Cup final against Manchester City last weekend proved he has the mentality and skill for a 'big team'.

The Italian scurried around the City defence and unleashed a curling drive into the bottom corner from a narrow angle to open the scoring, although the Black Cats were ultimately overturned 3-1.

It was the latest in an impressive line of goals by the 22-year-old, who has previously notched in clashes with Chelsea and Manchester United for the team that he joined on a season-long loan in September.

Now filled with confidence, Borini has shared his ambitions for the remainder of the current campaign and beyond. "That means I am made for a big team," he commented.

"We will see what will happen until the end of the season, and try to beat the big teams and the small ones, and then let's see in the summer.

"It was a great feeling scoring in the cup final - two or three times what I normally feel for a goal.

"A great feeling, all emotions, especially against a big team when no-one expected us to be in front against Manchester City at Wembley."

Sunderland manager Gus Poyet has been talking up the contributions of the Italy international this week too, describing Borini as both 'impressive' and 'important' to the team's cause.

"Fabio is a player who has given us plenty of things. We've been asking him in the past to work a lot in the defensive way," the Black Cats boss told his club's official website.

"At the same time he has been good [going forward] even when he has played on the side - he is an impressive player.

"[Against City] it was a tactical plan, a decision, and it worked well for us and for Fabio. I'm looking forward to seeing him play up front more often than on the left or right.

"It's important to have players like that. We know Fabio is on loan but we also know how much he cares for this football club. He will be an important player for us between now and the end of the season."