But Sorensen, whose current contract expires next summer, insisted any interested club would not by buying a player past his sell-by date.

The former Sunderland goalkeeper told PA Sport: “When you have been playing regularly and are suddenly left out, it is not satisfying.

“I am in my prime. I’ve been feeling very good in training and have been playing well with the national team.

“That has been the frustrating part of things for me. It is not like I’ve been going downhill. It’s not like I’m at the end of my career. That’s why I want to get back playing as soon as possible.

“I don’t play football to sit on the bench, especially not at my age and I am sure the manager (Martin O’Neill) knows that.

“If I am not going to play here, then it has to be with someone else.”

Sorensen is keeping his options open as to where his future lies.

“I’ve said all along the main thing is playing. Whether it is permanent or loan, that is not the main thing. The main thing is playing,” he added.

“It could be here in England, it could be anywhere. As long it is the right club, and has ambitions to go somewhere, and playing at the highest level, I’d be interested.

“You always get people calling you saying ’We can offer this or we can do that’ but sometimes there is nothing behind it so I haven’t taken it too seriously until someone makes an offer – to Aston Villa or with me.”