GUS POYET expects Connor Wickham to return to a central attacking position before too long, but has defended his repeated use of the forward in a left-wing role.

Wickham ended months of speculation over his future earlier this week when he signed a new four-year deal that will keep him at the Stadium of Light until 2019.

Poyet’s determination to retain the 21-year-old’s services was a key factor in this week’s agreement, and led to questions over the Sunderland head coach’s decision to field Wickham on the left of midfield for the majority of this season’s matches.

With Steven Fletcher having scored just four goals in 12 games this term, there are growing calls for Wickham to be moved infield, but while Poyet accepts the England Under-21 international’s long-term future will be as an out-and-out centre-forward, he argues his current role is of greater benefit to the team.

“Connor came back from his loan at Leeds, and we were in a situation where the dream of a player is to, ‘Give me four or five games in a row’,” said the Black Cats boss.

“He did that and took his chance. He did well, so then in the summer of course the simple thing was to play him in the middle because he finished last season remembering playing in the centre.

“But we tried him on the left because he’d played there for a couple of the clubs he went to on loan, and in a couple of pre-season friendlies where I liked what I saw. He has got better there, although he wants to play in the middle and he will sooner or later because he’s a number nine.”

During the summer, Wickham was heavily linked with a possible move to West Ham United, and Hull City had also been mentioned as possible suitors prior to this week’s announcement of a new deal.

With Wickham’s future resolved, Poyet can concentrate on pursuing external targets of his own once the transfer window reopens at the start of next month, and the Uruguayan is delighted to have finally drawn a line under a saga that had dragged on for the best part of a year.

“It’s important for me that Connor's signed his contract,” he said. “Too many things have been out in the open. In the summer, it was the aim to get him tied down but things happen.

“Decisions are not easy and everything needed to come together as well, him being happy, wanting to be here and part of the team, playing - so many things.

“Sometimes, you find yourself out of the team and it's not only about the money side. It's about how much you want to stay. It's been good for him so far, he feels part of the team which is important and he's playing at the highest level which is what he was looking for. Before he wasn't - he was always out on loan.

“I'm delighted because it's not easy to find players like Connor - and you never know how much he can cost. We can talk different prices but for sure we're talking about millions, and I'm delighted because we've brought him to a situation he knows and it should be easier now.”

One of Poyet’s first decisions as Sunderland manager was to send Wickham on loan to Sheffield Wednesday, and while the former Ipswich forward returned to Wearside briefly in January, he was sent back out to Leeds United in the spring.

It was only a long-term injury to Fletcher, and a lack of goals from Fabio Borini, that forced Poyet to recall Wickham and thrust him straight into the starting line-up in the final two months of last season, and a run of five goals in three games played a crucial role in enabling Sunderland to retain their top-flight status.

With the benefit of hindsight, Poyet admits he was far too quick to write Wickham out of the equation in the early months of his reign.

“He found himself in and out and coming back to the club with different managers, and never in a position to play,” he said. “To improve, you need to play against the biggest and best.

“To be honest, not having a chat with him when I arrived was something I didn't do that I regret. We put so much emphasis on defending that the rest went to one side, not just with Connor.

“I forget sometimes he's 21. Because you've been with him for a while, you think he's 24. He's more mature, he knows his game better and what he can do for us. He keeps improving, and I’m sure there's more to come.”

Billy Jones and Emanuele Giaccherini have returned to training this week, but are unlikely to be risked in tomorrow’s game with West Ham.