GRANIT READY TO ROCK

Xhaka relishes his new challenge on Wearside

- BY IAN MURTAGH

GRANIT XHAKA has vowed to play a lead role in an exciting new era for newly-promoted Sunderland.

On the day the ambitious Black Cats took their summer spending close to £140million with the £9.5m signing of Dutch Under-21 keeper Robin Roefs from NEC Nijmegen, the former Arsenal skipper (left, with the Gunners) has set his sights high with the Black Cats.

"We are back to where this club needs to be and we want to stay here to write our own history," said the 32-year-old, who has agreed a three-year deal following his move from Bayer Leverkusen.

"We need to find ourselves on the pitch but I don't think this will be a problem."