Connor Wickham receives Martin O'Neill praise

Martin O'Neill has described the performance that Connor Wickham put in against Bolton Wanderers this afternoon as "great".

The 19-year-old came off the bench to find the net as the Black Cats recovered from a two-goal deficit to claim a replay at the Reebok Stadium.

Reflecting on the England youth international's performance, O'Neill also revealed that he was pleased to see him linking up with Sunderland's leading goalscorer Steven Fletcher.

"[Wickham] was great, I was delighted. It was a great contribution and it was good to get the goal, that's a great confidence booster for him," O'Neill told reporters.

"I think that was the first time he's been on the field at the same time as Steven Fletcher so from that viewpoint it looks as if they could play together."

Wickham has scored two goals so far this season.