CONNOR WICKHAM has launched a blistering attack on Sunderland’s supporters, claiming they were ‘too quick to judge him’ during his time at the Stadium of Light.

Wickham will take on the Black Cats for the first time since leaving Wearside when Sam Allardyce’s side visit his current club, Crystal Palace, tomorrow.

The 22-year-old scored 15 goals in 91 appearances for Sunderland – 39 of which were as a substitute – and was integral to the ‘Great Escape’ under Gustavo Poyet at the end of the 2013-14 season, scoring in games against Manchester City, Chelsea and Cardiff.

However, he found himself shuffled onto the left-hand side for the majority of last season under Dick Advocaat, and had become an increasingly disconsolate figure by the time he made a £7m move to Selhurst Park in August.

He is anticipating a rough reception from the visiting fans if he is involved tomorrow, but claims Sunderland supporters were too quick to brand him a flop following his high-profile teenage move from Ipswich Town.

“The thought of being booed doesn’t bother me,” said Wickham, who is still to claim his first goal as a Palace player. “From the stands, everybody plays a perfect game of football and nobody ever makes a mistake.

“I don’t know what the Sunderland fans were expecting. They were quick to judge. I played a position that wasn’t my natural position, or one that I anticipated playing in.

“They said I never scored goals, and this, that and the other. But I scored goals when I played as a central striker. You have to learn to ignore them – they’re not in my mind-set any more.

“It didn’t go to plan at Sunderland. The idea was that I would be the focal point of the team, and it didn’t work out that way. But I won’t use those times to bring me down – I see it as a stepping stone.”

Palace boss Alan Pardew sees Wickham as an out-and-out striker, and while his first-team chances have been restricted by Bakary Sakho’s impressive form following his summer move from Wolves, the former England Under-21 international remains convinced he will get plenty of opportunities to prove his worth.

He will be itching to prove a point if he is involved tomorrow, and claims it is nice to be in an environment where he does not have to worry about what role he will be asked to play.

“I got five goals to help them (Sunderland) avoid the drop, and that was a good period for me,” said Wickham. “I’ve always known I can score goals.

“But that was the only time I was given a chance to play as a striker there, and prove I could do it. The following season, I went back to playing on the left and my confidence got knocked again.

“Now, I have come to a club which has a manager who believes in me. I’m a million times happier at Palace than I was at Sunderland. I can play down the middle and I’ve got two wingers to run off me and two who will run in behind me.”