Lee Cattermole says it is about time Sunderland started acting the like they should be.

The Black Cats have endured three straight relegation battles in the Premier League but after landing manager Dick Advocaat permanently, and adding a number of quality players in the summer, Cattermole is eyeing much more on Wearside.

"It's a brilliant club with a massive fanbase, but we're underachieving at the moment," said midfielder Cattermole who recently signed a new long-term deal at the Stadium of Light.

"We need to look to push on and get back to the kind of heights that the club enjoyed in the Peter Reid era.

"They finished seventh back then, and if you can finish in or around there, then that's progress, and I don't see any reason why we shouldn't be competing with where Swansea, Stoke and Southampton are.

"You look at clubs like that, and that has to be the target for us.

"Throw in a decent cup run, and that's where the club has to look to be.

"In terms of the team, I think this is the best group of players now that I've ever been a part of here."

Sunderland kick off the 2015/16 Premier League season with a trip to top flight returnees Leicester City on Saturday.