Sunderland manager Paolo Di Canio has revealed that he turned down an offer to let Lee Cattermole go out on loan last week, before giving the midfielder hope of a first-team future on Wearside.

Cattermole has not played since last February after having surgery on a persistent knee injury, with Di Canio making it clear earlier this summer that the former club captain did not feature in his plans.

Di Canio has now done a U-turn over Cattermole and insisted that he can win his place back with hard work, challenging the 25-year-old to provide fire and intensity in central midfield.

He told The Guardian: "We have to be honest, he wasn't in the plan. But last week I spoke with him for half an hour. Man to man. I told him to have a future here he had to convince me because my regime is completely different to what he had until last year.

"He was more than positive. I'm happy. Now he's back, he's full of enthusiasm. It can be a new start for him.

"I said no [to loan offer]. I have to be honest 10 days ago the answer would have been yes, but I need British players. I need the quality, the intensity. I need the fire. I've said to Lee Cattermole show me this character, this quality, this professionalism, this desire, and you will start games."

The Black Cats have failed to win any of their first four Premier League games so far this season, with their latest effort ending in a 3-1 defeat to Arsenal last weekend.