Sunderland striker El Hadji Diouf has warned Ricky Sbragia he could leave the club this month if he is not given assurances of regular action.The Senegal ace has barely featured since Sbragia replaced Roy Keane at the Stadium of Light and he is worried he is not part of the new manager's plans.

Diouf starred in Saturday's FA Cup third-round win over former club Bolton, but that was his first appearance in a month and he now wants to find out whether he has a future on Wearside.

He has been linked with a return to Bolton and a reunion with Sam Allardyce at Blackburn, and he admits he may look to leave the Black Cats this month if he is not in Sbragia's plans.

"I need a proper chat with Ricky to find out what his plans are for me," Diouf, who joined Sunderland six months ago, said. "I don't know how important he thinks I am.

"I am just waiting to see what happens. I have already had a brief chat with him, but I want a longer conversation.

"I was very happy to play against my old team and the fact we won obviously made it much better. But I need to see what Ricky imagines me doing in the second half of the season.

"The bottom line is that I want to play and I have only been playing a little bit in recent weeks.

"I know Ricky very well because we worked together at Bolton and that's why I'm very honest with him and can tell him exactly what I want.

"Hopefully, he feels exactly the same and will tell me whether he needs me or not. I don't know what will happen, but if I'm picked for more games why shouldn't I stay?

"Certainly I have no regrets joining Sunderland and I want to be successful here. But if I am not playing and don't feel needed, I would want to go."

More Football News from TEAMtalk