Martin O'Neill hopes to replicate Newcastle United with Sunderland

Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill has said that he is hoping to "emulate" Newcastle United's season last term, when they managed fifth in the Premier League.

Newcastle were in contention for the Champions League for long periods and O'Neill said that the unexpected success is something he wants for Sunderland.

"It was a great season for Newcastle," Goal.com quotes O'Neill as saying. "It might have been unexpected in some quarters, but they signed some very good players and it worked out brilliantly for them.

"It was a really great season. Of course, that's something that we want to emulate as quickly as we possibly can. However it's easier said than done."

O'Neill took over Sunderland last season and took them away from relegation danger to 13th.