Sunderland AFC news: £13m winger wants to stay, second French friendly tonight

Lens was expected to be moved on this summer after falling out of favour under ex-Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce.

However, with David Moyes now at the helm, the £13million capture is hoping for a fresh start in a red and white shirt after starting two of the Black Cats' three pre-season outings so far.

“What happened last year is in the past now. I have started a new season and I want to look forward," he said.

Sunderland face their second pre-season friendly in France tonight (5pm kick-off) when they tackle newly-promoted French top flight outfit Dijon.

The Ligue 1 side should provide far more of a test than Sunderland's opening game on the banks of Lake Geneva, when they beat Stade Nyonnais 2-0 on Monday.

Jordan Pickford is expected to start tonight after fellow stopper Vito Mannone played the full 90 minutes against Nyonnais.

But Mannone is not looking to surrender his starting spot to England Under-21 international Pickford when the Premier League gets underway after the Italian was a key part of Sunderland's survival last season.

"It is my job, I did well last year and I got the jersey and it is down to me to maintain it," said Mannone.