Sunderland striker Connor Wickham is targeting his first senior England call-up next season by proving that his end-of-season form was "no flash in the pan".
The 21-year-old returned from a spell at Leeds United to score five goals in six games and help the Black Cats secure an unlikely Premier League survival.
Wickham has had three loans away from the Stadium of Light since signing for £8m in 2011, but has stressed that next season is the year in which he must become a Black Cats regular under Gus Poyet.
Should he do so, Wickham is hoping for a goal haul that would attract the attention of Three Lions boss Roy Hodgson and demonstrate that he has the ability to be a long-term hit at the highest level.
"I want to get in the England setup as soon as possible," he told reporters. "That is my aim for next season.
"We've got to take our form into the start of next season. I need to make sure that I'm in the team every single week next season and prove to people that I am no flash in the pan.
"Ever since my debut I have wanted first-team football. It's like a bug, you can never beat the feeling of walking out in front of 50,000 people and scoring. It is something you get addicted to."
Wickham has scored six goals in 17 appearances for England's Under-21 side.
Joe Fish
