Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill has insisted that sixteen months out of the game has not diluted his passion.
O'Neill takes charge of this weekend's key encounter with Blackburn after watching from the stands as Sunderland lost 2-1 to Wolves on Sunday afternoon.
"I didn't go to a lot of live games because I was sort of footballed out. But I have covered some Champions League games for ITV," said O'Neill.
"I've seen some very good players playing well. From that viewpoint, the enthusiasm is still there, it's never disappeared. It's just great to be back again."
O'Neill parted ways with Aston Villa last August after a falling-out with American owner Randy Lerner.
