Dean Whitehead insists Sunderland are now better equipped to survive Premiership relegation this season.

He told the Sunday Sun: "There were a couple of clubs interested in me last summer after we were relegated but I wanted to stay here at Sunderland and my decision has proved the right one, because we bounced straight back into the Premiership again.

"There's a burning desire in those players who were involved in the last Premiership campaign to make up for that disappointment this time round.

"Whenever you fail at something, you want to have another try at it and succeed the next time.

"The lads who were here the season before last, myself included, will not let this second chance slip by.

"The whole squad - the survivors from two years ago and the new players - will be making sure there is no repeat of what went before.

"Things will be different this time round.

"The club is stronger and we are more geared towards the top flight now."