Tainio ready for relegation fight

Tainio has only started 14 games following his summer move from Spurs

Sunderland midfielder Teemu Tainio is adamant the Wearsiders are prepared to fight to the finish in order to preserve their Premier League status.

Saturday sees the visit of strugglers West Bromwich Albion and Tainio believes the Wearsiders need to be ruthless to secure their own safety.

"They are desperate for the points, and so are we," he told BBC Newcastle.

"Our destiny is in our hands, we have to make sure we're in the Premier League next season."

The Finland international has only recently returned to the side after recovering from a mystery knee injury, making his first start since February in the 2-1 defeat by Manchester United.

And the 29-year-old believes he is now fit and well enough to play his part in the final weeks of the season.

"Being out for so long it's been really hard, I've been in and out of the side with injury and I hadn't played for two months," he said.

"It's really good to be back, I've played in two games and my knee feels OK and I'm getting my match fitness back, I don't feel any pain in the knee."

Tainio was one of three Tottenham players to move to Wearside during the summer of 2008, arriving at the club on an undisclosed fee along with team-mates Steed Malbranque and Pascal Chimbonda.