Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill is in no rush to send Connor Wickham out on-loan.

The striker has been linked with a move to the Championship.

"Connor obviously wants to get involved," O'Neill explained. "Like every player coming in in that position he feels there is a threat and he should do really.

"We will look at his situation and see how it develops, but I genuinely hope competition would galvanise players rather than disappoint."