Craig Gardner insists he's happy at Sunderland.

The midfielder has been linked with a return to the West Midlands over homesickness rumours.

"I do like it up here. I have never once come out and said I didn't like it," he told The Journal.

"I did say I found it hard and I'll admit that. It was hard. At the start when I first moved here it was a bit of a reality check for me. I had moved away from Birmingham, where I have always been but I like it here now.

"Martin O'Neill said it was the North-east not the Middle East, which was quite funny. I can take jokes like that on the chin because it was funny, but I have wised up to the situation now and I really enjoy it now. The lads have really helped me along and I am loving it here."