Paolo Di Canio: 'I may slap Connor Wickham'

Sunderland boss Paolo Di Canio has admitted that he may need to slap striker Connor Wickham to remind him that he is a footballer.

The former Ipswich Town forward has started once for Di Canio, in his opening game as Black Cats manager, but was sidelined for a month with a calf injury.

However, he did make a substitute appearance in the Wearsiders' 1-1 draw with Southampton.

Di Canio told reporters: "Maybe, with this guy [Wickham], I have to slap his face a little bit.

"He seemed to be complaining because it was wet. Maybe if he doesn't go out in a small T-shirt when it is wet, he won't be complaining.

"I have told him, 'No small T-shirts. I don't want him missing games because he is a Playboy model. We are footballers — that is our job."

Sunderland had their Premier League survival confirmed following Wigan Athletic's defeat to Arsenal, which condemned the Latics to the Championship.