Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill insists he believes in striker Fraizer Campbell.

O'Neill admits he rejected enquiries for Campbell during the summer.

"Fraizer has a battle on his hands - as have the players I have brought in," O'Neill said.

"I think everyone wants to be a part of it and I think there is a just a lift with the new players coming in to the club. The position are there for battle and we will see.

"When I came in here Fraizer had been injured for a long time. He came back and not too may come back from those injuries, and the good thing is that he is injury-free.

"He came in a flurry last season which was really great but like most of us, he dropped a little bit after the Everton game. We have tried to regain it in pre-season.

"There was a bit of tentative interest in Fraizer, as there was a number of my boys but I would not want to leave myself short with the number of strikers we have."