Source: Team_Talk
Wickham eager to make his mark
Sunderland striker Connor Wickham is desperate for a chance to show what he can do after winning his big move to the Premier League.[LNB] The 18-year-old joined the Black Cats from Ipswich during the summer for an initial £8.1million which could eventually rise to £12million as manager Steve Bruce invested in his rich potential.[LNB]Wickham's blossoming talent had prompted a series of top flight clubs to sit up and take notice after he burst into the Ipswich first-team at the age of just 16 years and 11 days, and Sunderland had to fight off serious competition to land him.[LNB]However, he has had to remain patient on Wearside with Bruce refusing to pitch him into the intensity of Premier League football too soon, and he so far has five appearances as a substitute to his name.[LNB]Wickham said: "Obviously, it's been quite frustrating. I just want to play football and when we are not doing so well, I feel and want to go on and show everyone what I can do and what I am capable of doing.[LNB]"But I have just got to do the best I can every time I get on to the pitch. I have got to do enough in those 15, 20, 35 minutes that I am capable of doing what I have done before.[LNB]"Every day and in every game, you need to do your best and when you do your best, it builds your confidence.[LNB]"Confidence is key to any footballer and I have got confidence at the moment, so I just want to be playing football."[LNB]Wickham will hope for another chance on familiar territory on Monday night when the Black Cats travel to promoted Norwich.[LNB]The Canaries, of course, are Ipswich's fierce local rivals and the England Under-21s striker's last meeting with them in April ended in a humiliating 5-1 npower Championship defeat at Portman Road.[LNB]However, while the Colchester-born frontman retains a great fondness for the Suffolk club, revenge will not be the only thing on his mind at Carrow Road.[LNB]He said: "Ipswich was a great club and they taught me everything I know - I had been there since I was 11 years old.[LNB]"What they did for me was brilliant, all the coaches and all the boys, and I still speak to some of the boys now.[LNB]"But I have moved on, I am at Sunderland, I am in the Premier League and I have just got to show what I can do in the Premier League now."[LNB]Wickham was one of three strikers to arrive at the Stadium of Light during the summer transfer window, and Asamoah Gyan's shock departure for United Arab Emirates club Al-Ain on loan means that he, South Korea international Ji Dong-won and loanee Nicklas Bendtner are the only fit specialists currently in the squad.[LNB]Ji opened his goal account in the 2-1 home defeat by Chelsea on September 10, and midfielder Craig Gardner followed suit on Sunday as Sunderland claimed their opening victory of the campaign at the sixth attempt with a 4-0 demolition of Stoke.[LNB]Now Wickham is hoping a chance will come his way so he too can get off the mark.[LNB]He said: "I hope so, I hope that's how it goes.[LNB]"I have just got to be in the right place at the right time and keep working hard in training, and hopefully I will get my time on the pitch and the goals will start coming soon."
