Sunderland's hardline gaffer Paolo di Canio has handed his players some time off this week.

John O'Shea revealed the Italian has given his players a rest ahead of next Monday's trip to Aston Villa.

He said: "We'll have a couple of days off then get back to working hard.

"The boys believe what he's telling us and he's very clever tactically. There's work still to be done, though."