Sunderland manager Martin O’Neill says he needs to see former Blues striker Connor Wickham in action over a run of games in order to make an assessment of the 19-year-old. The England U21 international has been linked with a loan return to Town next season with manager Paul Jewell and chief executive Simon Clegg both admitting that the Blues would be interested should Wickham become available.
O’Neill said: "I will get a better idea of him in pre-season. He will get a proper opportunity, seeing him in back-to-back games and against some decent opposition. I will then be under less pressure to find an immediate solution like I have been in my first season.
"Since I arrived it has been stop-start for him, particularly with niggling injuries. He picked up an injury at Spurs and was not fully fit against Blackburn, and I was delighted with him.
"Then he picked up another injury and was out of contention. He twisted an ankle a couple of weeks ago.
"He needs a run of games for me to form a proper opinion of what he can do in the Premier League. I don't want bit-part players, I want him to be a leading light."
Wickham joined Sunderland from the Blues last summer for an initial fee of £8.1 million but has made only six starts and 12 sub appearances this season, scoring one goal.