Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is adamant Connor Wickham is a long-term signing.

Bruce reckons they will not see the best of the rookie for a few years yet.

He said: "Connor has got everything in the locker but he's young and I have had to protect him a little bit.

"I was never going to pick him for the first or second game. It was always my plan to let him have a little bit of time.

"It could be 18 months or two years before he really flourishes."