GUS POYET is ready to hand Emanuele Giaccherini a regular central-midfield berth, provided Sunderland’s opponents are not too physical for the Italian to cope with.

Giaccherini has struggled to establish himself in a wide position during a Black Cats career that has failed to scale the heights that were anticipated when he moved from Juventus in 2013.

However, having been switched inside for Tuesday night’s FA Cup replay win at Fulham, the 29-year-old produced one of his most accomplished displays in a Sunderland shirt as he successfully linked play between the base of midfield and central striker Jermain Defoe.

The Italy international has regularly expressed a desire to play in a more central role, and while Poyet concedes there will be matches where Giaccherini’s lack of physical strength would be exposed, he is ready to give him an extended run in the position.

“He can be very effective in a more central role, and that is where he wants to play as well,” said the Sunderland head coach. “I think sometimes it will depend on the strength and power of the opposition.

“There are teams, for example Tottenham, who are very strong in the middle of the park, and who pass the ball in a certain way. To be able to cope with that, you need a certain physicality.

“Because of the way I thought the Fulham game would go, and with Jack (Rodwell) missing, I thought it would be the perfect game for Giaccherini to play in the middle.

“He gives you plenty of mobility and can play in between the lines. He was good on the ball on Tuesday, and that helped us a lot. It is a good option for us for the future. It is a role that could suit him, and he would prefer to play there too.”

With Seb Larsson coming back into contention after being rested on Tuesday night, Giaccherini is unlikely to start at Swansea this afternoon, although he could have an influence off the substitutes’ bench.

He was in the starting side as Poyet’s first game as Sunderland boss ended in a 4-0 defeat at the Liberty Stadium, and while the memory of the Black Cats’ second-half collapse has not faded, the Uruguayan head coach is delighted with the way the club has progressed in the last 15 months.

“We have changed a lot since then,” he said. “And I am not just talking about the way we play. We’ve changed a lot of personnel and it’s a completely different group. I think there are 13 or 14 players that have left, and nine new ones, so it has been a big change.

“We’re still in the process of trying to play in a certain way a bit better than we’re doing, but Tuesday was one of the best days in terms of passing and controlling the game. Winning helps that. They are more flexible and believe in what they are doing – that is important.”