After hitting the winner at Aston Villa, Sunderland goal poacher Michael Chopra admits he's aware of the doubters on Wearside.

Chopra admitted: "A lot of people have still been saying they paid £5m for me and I'm not worth it. All I have to do is keep trying to score goals and shut those people up. I managed to do that today and we got a massive three points.

"I was very disappointed last week to get left out but I knew the only way to get back into the team was to perform well in training.

"It wasn't a wake-up call, it's just keeping the players on their toes a bit. It means if you slack off you are going to be left out.

"That's what happened last week with three of us.

"The three people left out have come in and done a good job.

"I never put pressure on myself. I just think that what comes along comes along."