Gus Poyet urges Adam Johnson to seize World Cup chance

Sunderland boss Gus Poyet has urged Adam Johnson to impress England manager Roy Hodgson during this Sunday's League Cup final against Manchester City.

Johnson's chances of making the World Cup squad have been boosted in the past few weeks with a string of impressive performances for the Black Cats.

Poyet now wants the winger to seize his opportunity at Wembley Stadium this weekend, with Hodgson likely to be in attendance.

"Normally these games are the ones that the managers of the national teams look at most," he told the Evening Chronicle. "You need to perform because that's what you expect at the World Cup.

"These are big games to play in. England are playing Uruguay and Italy in the World Cup and the players in Adam's position need to be at a good level against the best teams in the league."

Johnson has scored seven goals in his last nine games for Sunderland.