Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill insists Lee Cattermole must stay.

Cattermole has come under renewed fire after picking up the fifth red card of his Sunderland career at MK Dons in midweek - equalling the club record for dismissals, despite playing just 79 games in red-and-white.

"I want him to stay," O'Neill told the Sunday Sun. "We have discussed it with his agent and we'll see how it develops.

"I know all the talk this week has been of his disciplinary record - and it's not a good record, there's no getting away from that - but let's not murder him for it.

"I still want him at the club and I'm hoping that he will sign."