Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele insists he is over his ‘nightmare’ spell at Sunderland and determined to succeed as a Seagull after a long injury battle.

Steele decided to leave Blackburn Rovers last season but the move backfired as Sunderland were relegated for the second year in a row down to League One.

He joined the Seagulls in the summer on a three-year deal but then picked up a thigh injury less than a week after moving to the south coast.

The 28-year-old is now back fit and ready to go as he tries to impress in the third-round tie against Bournemouth on Saturday. He and David Button are fighting it out for the No.1 spot along with Mathew Ryan and Steele admits he needs to take his chance.

Steele told The Argus: “Maty’s been unbelievable over the past year-and-a-half, without doubt he’s the number one goalkeeper here. “It was an opportunity for Butts and I to come here and develop again.

Especially with my own circumstances, it was a chance to regain my confidence and belief in my ability again.

“I feel like I’ve done that and hopefully I can show that on Saturday. I’ve got to use my experience, I’ve played an awful lot of football in my career. I’d like to think I wouldn’t be overawed by a situation.

“Looking at the past year, obviously people are going to be questioning and I understand that, but it’s up to me to deliver on the day, it’s as simple as that.”

Bournemouth are 2.05 to win the match, with the draw 3.40, while Brighton are priced at odds of 3.75.