Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill is confident keeping Stephane Sessegnon.

Sessègnon's form has inevitably attracted attention from elsewhere with a crop of weekend reports linking him with a move to either Arsenal or Liverpool.

The striker himself is understood to be happy playing under O'Neill and gradually seems to be integrating into the English way of life. The Black Cats boss believes there will be even more to come from him when he becomes fluent in English.

"He played well and once he gets to understand anyone, he will be even better," he told The Journal.

"He can hold it up, bring people into play and he can turn and twist and get at players. He has been so important to us. He can go out wide right but playing up the middle and as close to the opposition goal as possible is best.

"But sometimes he has got to drop in for us."