Sunderland goalkeeper Vito Mannone has hailed the impact of Connor Wickham.

The striker has been outstanding as Sunderland have dragged themselves out of the dropzone.

"Connor has been really good. It's what we needed," Mannone told the Football Echo.

"Everybody has done well, but he deserves big praise because he's been holding the ball for us. We can play a different game and he's been on form in front of goal too.

"That's what we need from a striker.

"The other strikers that came on at Chelsea helped us too, so finally we've got a good spirit in every department."