• Premier League

Borini wants Serie A return to seal World Cup spot

Borini became an instant hero on Tyneside when he scored the winner against Newcastle © Getty Images

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Sunderland loanee Fabio Borini wants to return to Serie A in January to realise his World Cup dream.

Borini, 22, joined the Black Cats on a season-long loan from Liverpool but has started only two matches in all competitions for the Premier League's bottom club.

He was an unused member of the Italy squad at Euro 2012, and scored in the European Under-21 Championship final defeat to Spain earlier this year. But he has seen his hopes of making the 23-man squad for Brazil reduced by a lack of playing time both for Liverpool last season, partly because of a broken foot suffered on under-21 duty, and on Wearside this term.

The striker has not been called up by Italy boss Cesare Prandelli for more than a year, winning one senior cap in a friendly against the United States in February 2012.

Borini has one goal to his name this season, the late winner against Newcastle in the Tyne-Wear derby a month ago.

And his agent, Marco De Marchi, told the Daily Mirror: "Liverpool own him and in the summer didn't want him to leave, even though the player wants minutes. He dreams of Brazil in 2014 and needs games.

"He's only had a chance at Sunderland after the arrival of Gus Poyet, but it is still insufficient. I would like a meeting with Liverpool in January."

Liverpool signed Borini from AS Roma for a fee of around 10.5 million pounds in the summer of 2012. He has also played for Parma in Italy.

At the start of the month, Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers insisted that Borini has a long-term future at Anfield.

Rodgers said: "Fabio's a young player who's been unfortunate, really. He came in and got injured early on and was out for a period of time. So it was difficult.

"I need to plan forward in order to get these players to maximise their potential for Liverpool. Sometimes, that will mean going out and getting games. With Fabio, that's why he's gone, to get more game time there.

"So he's definitely got a future here. He's a talented young player, and one I hope will develop well over the next few years."

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