Sunderland goalkeeper Craig Gordon admits being dropped by manager Roy Keane earlier this season was a huge jolt.

"It was massive kick up the backside to be honest. It was difficult. It was a hard time and I didn't enjoy it," the Scot told the Sunday Sun. "You are paid to play and so you never enjoy not playing games. That wasn't easy to take.

"The manager had a chat with me when he left me out but that was really the last I heard of it. It was then down to me to get myself back into the side. It wasn't nice but you can't let it affect you too much."

Since being restored to the side the 25-year-old £9 million man has not looked back, responding by producing a string of impressive displays as Sunderland dragged themselves out of the bottom three.

"It's probably the first question mark that's been put against me since I started playing first-team football," said Gordon. "But I was always confident that I would get back in.

"My confidence in my own ability is something that I have never questioned.

"You have to have that if you are going to survive at the top level. I just concentrated on what I had to do to get back in the team again.

"You have to be single-minded and carry on, regardless of what is happening round about you."