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The form Leicester winger who arrive from the Midlands in a £3.5m transfer has ahad little joy on Wearside, but that could be about to change.
"I have been surprised sometimes with how I've coped," said Piper, whose latest knee ligament surgery was the tenth operation of his career. "I've just learnt to take everyday as it comes. Don't get me wrong, there have been days when I've let it get to me, but on the whole I think I've dealt with it the best I could have done."
"I'm just really looking forward to getting fit and getting back into the side. When I did start to get down, I just looked at my little boy and it put everything into perspective for me. He was born soon after I suffered my last injury and that was a big help."
"It was the fourth or fifth serious injury I'd had since coming here and it drove me on to get fit and to get back playing, for his sake and for mine."
"It's about making up for lost time at Sunderland. I've got the reserve-team game against Manchester United on Thursday. I'm looking forward to that and then it will be about trying to get back into the first team."
"I'll probably need three or four reserve team games before I can start thinking about the first team, so I'm hoping to make my comeback around Christmas time."
"The fans have seen little bits of me, but it will be like having a new player. They know what I can do, even though I've not been at my best because of my injuries."
"I'm going to be pretty much the same player I was, but I've been in the gym a lot and have put on some weight, which can only be a good thing. It's helped in a funny way. I do feel as though I've analysed my game and analysed football. I've watched a lot of games and I think that will help me now I'm back playing."