Agent: Giaccherini Staying With Sunderland

Emanuele Giaccherini will be staying in Sunderland for another season at least, according to his agent, with the Italian midfielder netting twice in his first game of pre-season. The 30-year-old arrived from Juventus with high expectations, though his chances have been limited through injury, but now the Italian is ready to go having already opened his goalscoring account with a brace against Darlington last night. Furio Valcareggi, the man who represents Giaccherini, told Italian news site TMW: "He remains with Sunderland. He had two serious injuries last season, but wants to redeem himself with his club, and he is happy to stay" If Giaccherini can overcome his injury problems, he could be like a new signing for Sunderland,and it's testament to his character that he is willing to stay with the club to repay the faith originally shown in him. But the midfielder certainly isn't getting carried away with his impressive opening game. He told The Chronicle: "Last season was really, really hard because I had to watch the games from the stands. That€™s tough. €œBut now we€™re starting again and this season for me is so important. The injuries are part of football, but now I€™ve forgotten the injuries and this season is another season. €œI want to play as many games as possible and after that there€™s the Euros. I€™m happy to be back playing for the first time and playing 90 minutes. That€™s good for my fitness, although I was tired in the last 15 minutes. €œThe goals don€™t matter, because that€™s part of football, but for fitness after the injury, it€™s okay. I forget that it was at Darlington that I got injured last season with the groin, so I€™ll keep my fingers crossed for this season because I want to play all of it.€