Monday 5 January 2015 15:59, UK
Connor Wickham has insisted he was never concerned about his future after signing a new deal at Sunderland.
The 21-year-old signed a four-and-a-half-year contract extension with the Black Cats in December after months of speculation regarding his future.
There were fears he could leave for nothing in the summer in a similar fashion to Jack Colback but Wickham insists he was always confident agreement would be reached to extend his stay at the Stadium of Light.
"The speculation never bothered me as much as what was made of it,” Wickham said. “People don't see what goes on behind closed doors, and it was never in doubt.
"I took criticism for how long it took, but that was the process. At least it's settled now and everyone knows what's happening. I've signed the contract and that's the end of that.
"Over a month, I sat with the gaffer a couple of times and he explained to me what he wanted me to do.
“We had a good chat for half-an-hour, 45 minutes, and we got a lot out in the open and we understood each other. Now I know what he wants from me, and that's made it a lot easier.
At least it's settled now and everyone knows what's happening. I've signed the contract and that's the end of that.
“He said to me way before the negotiations even started what he wanted me to do for this season. I was happy to do it then, I'm happy to do it now.
“The contract was just one of those things that came up between then and now."
For much of the current campaign, Wickham has been asked to fill a wide-left midfield berth with the club having failed in its attempts to clinch a summer deal for Liverpool's Fabio Borini, who excelled in that role during last season's loan spell on Wearside.
There is little doubt he would prefer to line up through the middle – that responsibility is currently the preserve of Scotland international Steven Fletcher with Poyet largely operating a 4-1-4-1 system - but he is happy to do a job for the Uruguayan and the team.
"Obviously I want to play as high up the pitch as I can, and the role on the left involves some defending, which probably isn't the strongest bit of my game,” Wickham admitted.
"But the gaffer wants me to do it, so that's what I've got to do. It's up to me to adapt to the way he wants me to play.
"The manager asked me before the start of the season whether I could play on the left. I did it at Ipswich for a whole season and it didn't seem the same as what it seems now.
"Full-backs push on and there is defending to do, but it is the fact that we need to score more goals and get forward in numbers as much as we can."
