Former Sunderland striker Connor Wickham is enjoying a new leash of life at Crystal Palace following his summer move for the North East.

A few eyebrows were raised when Palace paid around £8million to sign him from the Black Cats in the summer, but the 22-year-old striker is determined to prove his doubters wrong.

"It feels like a massive weight has been lifted off my shoulders," he tells Standard Sport ahead of tomorrow's home match against Manchester City.

"My family have sensed a difference in me and it is a relief to have an opportunity to play regular football again. It did not work out at Sunderland but that is in the past and, hopefully, I can start proving people wrong.

"To finally have a manager that will put his faith in me is important. I have wanted that for four years and everything here adds up to something that could be massive."

Wickham failed to live up to expectations during four seasons at Sunderland, where he was played on the left wing by a succession of managers.

"I owe Sunderland a lot, but I was signed as a striker and whenever I was fit I played on the wing," says Wickham. "There has been a lot of criticism of my performances, but when I have played as a No9 I have shown I can score goals.

"I went on loan to Sheffield Wednesday two years ago, scored goals as a No9 and finally got myself confident again playing in that position. I went back to Sunderland, scored the goals to help keep them up and then was back to playing on the wing.

"I met the manager here before I signed and he said everything I wanted to hear. Having a manager who wants me to play as an out-and-out striker is massive. I can focus on putting the ball in the back of the net."

On the size of the fee Palace paid, Wickham says: "You have to take the rough with the smooth in football. People will always say you are overpriced, but I don't decide the price.

"You have to take it on the chin. It is up to me to prove people wrong."