CARLOS EDWARDS is determined to recapture his best form and repay Sunderland boss Ricky Sbragia’s faith in him.
Edwards barely got a look-in under Keane, however, and Wolves chief – and ex-Black Cats boss – Mick McCarthy was keen to take him back on loan.
But Sbragia, who succeeded Keane last month, refused, insisting that the 30-year-old is part of his plans and has been as good as his word, involving him in six of his seven games in charge.
Now Edwards is determined show Sbragia that he has made the right decision.
“I had a short stay at Wolves but now I am back at Sunderland and back in the fold,” he said.
“Wolves did come back in and ask to take me on loan again but the manager said ‘no’.
“From my point of view, the fact the manager didn’t want to let me go out on loan again is a positive because it shows he sees me as part of his plans for the future.
“I want to show him that he has made the right decision, and the only way I can do that is by doing my job out on the pitch.
“I’ve played a handful of games since I came back and I am really raring to go.
“I want to push for a starting spot and hopefully I can convince the manager on the training ground that I deserve to be in the first team.”
Edwards was a key man in Sunderland’s Championship promotion-winning side two seasons ago but then saw injuries wreck his first season in the top flight.
He started the season with a hamstring problem, which effectively ruled him out for three months, and had no sooner returned from that when he broke his leg, which sidelined him for another three months.
When he returned in March, he had been out for so long that he never found his form.
This season he was allowed to go to Molineux on loan to give him the games he needed to regain his sharpness and rebuild his confidence, and Edwards says the move has worked.
“The injuries ruined my whole season last year,” he said. “I never really got started, and then, when I did get back playing near the end, the injuries took their toll.
“But this season is a fresh start and I don’t want to spend too much time thinking about the past.
“Going to Wolves gave me a confidence boost because it meant I was back playing competitive football on a regular basis again.
“Now I feel as though I am back to the player I was in the Championship and I am looking forward to causing Premier League teams a few headaches.”