Tainio keen to impress boss Keane

Tainio joined Sunderland from Carling Cup holders Tottenham in July

Sunderland midfielder Teemu Tainio has admitted he has endured a frustrating season so far at the Stadium of Light.

The Finn, 28, has made just four starts for the club since joining in July but is prepared to fight for his place in the Wearsiders' midfield.

"It hasn't been the best of starts for me, and of course not for the team either," he told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"Everybody wants to play and I have to show that to the manager in training and hopefully he'll pick me."

The Finnish international earned a winners' medal as part of Juande Ramos' Tottenham Hotspur side that lifted the Carling Cup against Chelsea in February.

And Tainio is keen to repeat his experience of playing at Wembley under manager Roy Keane - starting with Wednesday's fourth round Carling Cup tie against Blackburn Rovers.

"It's nice to win trophies, I had the chance to win it with Spurs, and it was a great feeling to play at Wembley in front of 80,000 people and win the game," he said.

"We want to do it again, now we have a tough game tomorrow, we want to go through from that game and we have to show we can play well at home.

"When you see there's only 16, eight or four teams left you know you're not far away, but every game is a cup final - if you lose, you're out."

Tainio joined Sunderland from Tottenham in July 2008 and has made 28 appearances for his country, scoring three goals.