Sunderland legend Niall Quinn feels Connor Wickham can be a Black Cats star.
Quinn signed Wickham while chairman of Sunderland.
He told The Journal: "Well done to him. I think he can be Sunderland's Alan Shearer - it is a high bar to set for him, but I believe he can.
"He has the chance now and he has the ability.
"I think he'll want it more than ever now but I'd like to see him be the last out of the training ground.
"I'd like to see him perfect his art, I'd like to see him watch videos of people like Alan Shearer sneaking into the box as opposed to walking in a straight line and suddenly you've nowhere to go when the ball comes across.
"He could make things good for himself if he starts to look at what other players do and practises on the training ground.
"He needs to make curved runs into the box, lose his man, go one way or the other.
"He's starting to do it but it doesn't come from listening to people and allowing them to pat you on the back.
"It comes on the training ground and if he wants to be the top player his ability means he can be, then he needs to do that."
