Mannone keen to gather intel on Manchester City
Vito Mannone has revealed that Sunderland will use Wednesday's clash with Manchester City to gather information for the Capital One Cup final with the Sky Blues.
The Italian goalkeeper could be set for a busy night at the Etihad Stadium tomorrow, with Manuel Pellegrini's men boasting no fewer than 42 league goals at Eastlands alone this season.
Although the former Arsenal shot-stopper admits that it will be tricky to emerge unscathed from the match, Mannone sees an opportunity for the Black Cats to also use the occasion as a reconisance exercise ahead of the League Cup showpiece on February 23.
"It will be a test at Man City," he told The Sunderland Echo. "But a good one for us, even if they are really strong at home.
"Everybody agrees they are scoring goals for fun and we will need to be at our best to defend really well and do something attacking.
"It's going to be a tough game, but it will put something in our minds of what we're going to do in the final."