Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill has insisted that he is looking forward to the tough run of games his side faces.

Manchester United visit on Saturday before Sunderland travel to both Chelsea and Newcastle United and O'Neill has urged his players to perform.

"The performance at home last time out wasn't too good – we didn't create enough against 10 men," he told the club's official website.

"There are great games coming up; fantastic matches which whet the appetite. It's up to us to do something about it.

"We have some matches to win. There are games coming up which are difficult on paper, but we should look forward to them. We need to win games and the sooner we do that the better."

Sunderland are currently 15th in the Premier League, four points above the relegation zone.