New boss Di Canio has impressed his Black Cats players

PASSION ... Di Canio has sparked Sunderland into life

PAOLO DI CANIO is playing his way into the hearts of the Sunderland players.
New boss Di Canio has impressed with his tactics and training methods.

But keeper Simon Mignolet revealed the Italian is also a good performer in their practice games.

He said: “You can see he was a good player.

"Paolo likes to be involved. He likes to feel part of it.”

However, coaching is now the main focus for Di Canio, who retired as a player five years ago.

Mignolet said: “It was not easy for him to get his messages across with the noise at St James’ Park.

“But he also delivers his messages on the training ground to us all, so we know what he wants already. He has high expectations.

“On the training ground we’ve done a lot of tactical stuff. Training is on his wavelength.

“He knows what he wants every time out there and so far it has worked in the matches.”