Anton Ferdinand is backing new Sunderland signing Matthew Kilgallon to be a big success on Wearside.

Kilgallon arrived in January from Sheffield United.

Fellow defender Ferdinand told safc.com: "Matt is a terrific player.

"I've known him for a while - it's probably six or seven years since he came on loan to West Ham as a youngster.

"He's another great lad the gaffer's brought in, but he is a good player as well.

"There's plenty of competition there now. Michael Turner has done brilliantly and it's between me, Matt, Paulo [Da Silva] and John Mensah for a place.

"It's hard to make the step up in any position, but with Matt's ability and confidence as a player and in himself it shouldn't be a problem.

"He's played in the Premier League before and he's already shown in the games he's played so far that he can cope with the strikers at this level."