Fabio Borini: Remains determined to prove his worth at Liverpool

The Italian forward, who has struggled for form and fitness since returning to English shores in the summer of 2012, linked up with the Black Cats on a season-long agreement in September.

He has found the regular first team football he craves at the Stadium of Light and has netted important goals in victories against Newcastle United, Chelsea and Manchester United.

The 22-year-old admits to enjoying his time on Wearside, despite being thrust into a Premier League basement battle, but has no plans to stay long-term.

Borini - who spent time in Chelsea's academy ranks and took in a loan spell at Swansea City back in 2011 - remains determined to prove his worth at Anfield, with Liverpool having splashed out £10million to secure his services from Roma.

He said in the Daily Star: "I'll finish my season here and then after that I'll go back to Liverpool because that's my contract.

"It would be nice to go back there as a Premier League player and to have shown them that even in a hard situation I can do well.

"I've achieved one of my objectives here at Sunderland of playing every week, but to play for big teams like Liverpool, you don't just need to perform well.

"As a striker you need to score goals. You can perform well, but at the end of the season people count your goals."