Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn says selling out the Stadium of Light would boost the club's chances of competing for European places.

Quinn is delighted with the team now at Sunderland with club owner Ellis Short and manager Steve Bruce.

He told The Times: "If I can fill this place, the club will be in the next batch of teams looking up in envy at the top-four. Tottenham Hotspur and Villa are there, Everton have been for a while, Manchester City, too, but there's maybe room for us in that top ten and then, after that, let's see where it all goes.

"If we can fill the stadium, with the World Cup bid there in the background driving us all along, hopefully Steve can feel encouraged that he will be managing a regular top ten team."