Connor Wickham has insisted that he is in the best shape of his career to date.

The 19-year-old has featured in the Sunderland starting lineup on a regular basis of late because of an injury to Scottish striker Steven Fletcher.

However, despite having only just come into the team, the England youth international believes that his performances this year have been better than the ones that he produced during the last campaign.

"I feel stronger and fitter than I ever have before. Not being in the squad made me determined to come back stronger," he told the club's official website.

"I think my performances this season have been much better than previous."

Wickham joined the Black Cats from Ipswich Town in the summer of 2011.