Aiden O'Brien says he was 'itching to sign' for Portsmouth on deadline day after dropping down the pecking order at Sunderland.
The forward joined the Black Cats' League One rivals on Monday evening, with Sunderland sporting director Kristjaan Speakman saying O'Brien was keen to move on in search of regular first team football.
He had been a bit-part player under recently departed head coach Lee Johnson in the first two-thirds of the season, scoring two league goals in 17 appearances, only seven of which were starts.
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But the switch to the South Coast has offered the 28-year-old an opportunity to kick-start his career, and he followed Denver Hume from Wearside to Fratton Park with the defender having made the move last week.
"It was a mad 24 hours and the manager [Pompey boss Danny Cowley] sold the club to me as soon as he got on the phone," said O'Brien, whose contract at Sunderland had been due to expire this summer.
"He told me about how he saw me fitting into the team and what he thought I was good at – I couldn't wait to get here.
"I was itching to sign after the situation at Sunderland and just wanted to get back playing football again.
"I want to get back to my best and scoring goals, providing assists – basically just causing mayhem for the opposition.
"I'm someone who likes to be on the ball and also get in behind. I want to sniff out chances and be like a fox in the box, but also try my luck from long-range.
"I like to think of myself as an all-round player and the main thing is working hard for the team because winning is all that matters.
"Hopefully I can hit the ground running because I feel fit and sharp.
"I'm ready to play as much as possible.
"There are a few of the lads I know from Ireland and Millwall, while I was at Sunderland with Denver Hume."
O'Brien started Sunderland's 4-0 defeat at Portsmouth amid torrential rain and a waterlogged pitch at Fratton Park, and his final appearance for the Black Cats came as a late sub in the 1-0 win against Pompey at the Stadium of Light the weekend before last.
He told Portsmouth's official website : "I appeared against Pompey twice this season – and for one of them we had to have our armbands on!
"I was only involved for a few minutes the other day, but the football Pompey played is what I want to be involved in."
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