Trai Hume is determined to make the most of his extended run in the Sunderland side.
The former Linfield man has come into Tony Mowbray's side for the last two games after Lyndon Gooch picked up an injury.
Full-back Hume came on as a second half substitute against Blackburn Rovers on Boxing Day and played his part in Ellis Simms' winner for the Black Cats.
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The Northern Ireland international started against Wigan on Thursday night and provided the assist for Simms for the opener at the DW Stadium.
Hume further endeared himself to the travelling support with a superb tackle on former Sunderland player James McClean as the visitors ran out 4-1 winners in the end to move up to fourth in the Championship.
"I want to keep on getting minutes and playing games, I want to play as many as I can," he told the Sunderland website.
"It's tough for Goochy because he's been performing excellently.
"He's out at the minute but I just need to keep my place.
"I thought I should have scored in the first couple of minutes (against Wigan).
"As a back five though I thought we were solid and they didn't really have many chances.
"We kept it solid throughout, from the midfield right through to pressing from the front we went and got after them."
Hume was pleased with his and Sunderland's performance against Wigan, but he wants them to round the festive period off in style when they travel to Blackpool on New Year's Day.
"It's going well but we have another game on New Year's Day and we need to get the three points and then that would be the perfect festive period for us," he said.
"It's been a great year overall getting promotion in the summer then a good start to the league.
"We just need to keep pushing in the second half of the season."
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