CONNOR WICKHAM wants to prove himself to Paolo Di Canio by returning to Sunderland in the right frame of mind after a depressing June with England's Under-21s.

The 20-year-old striker flew home from Israel yesterday after a disastrous European Under-21s Championships which saw Stuart Pearce's team eliminated without managing a single goal three defeats.

The spotlight at that level is now on whether or not the Football Association will stick with Pearce and already former Middlesbrough managed Gareth Southgate has been suggested as a replacement.

But Wickham is keen to forget about the nightmare as soon as possible and turn his sights quickly towards showing Di Canio he deserves to stay at the Stadium of Light.

The Black Cats boss is working frantically to alter the face of his squad and the club's new sporting director, Roberto De Fanti, and chief scout, Valentino Angeloni, are working on a number of different attacking options.

Wickham's future is under threat, particularly given Di Canio's willingness to criticise the £8.1m signing by labelling him a "playboy model" last month.

But Wickham said: "For now, it is just back to the club, work as hard as I can and try to get into that Sunderland team. Now obviously there is nothing we can do about this tournament - it has gone.

"For me personally, I am looking to the next one, but first and foremost I want to get back into the Sunderland team and starting to play football again."

His comments suggest a desire to stay on Wearside and make up for lost time, having been unable to force his way in to the first team on a regular basis under Steve Bruce, Martin O'Neill or Di Canio.

After the frustrations of last season's battle to avoid relegation with Sunderland, he had been hoping for a new lease of life and a boost in confidence during his summer outings with the Under-21s.

That, however, failed to materialise and he thinks every member of Pearce's pool of players should be angry with their performances after demoralising defeats to Italy, Norway and Israel.

"The mood was devastation," said Wickham. "I don't think there are any players in there that are going to be proud of what we have put in. We have let the country down and we have let ourselves down in the tournament.

"I honestly couldn't tell you why it went wrong. I think coming into the tournament we had a lot of confidence. We knew we had strength in numbers but obviously when it came down to it we just weren't good enough."

It is expected that Pearce has led the Under-21s for the last time, but Wickham said: "He gave me my debut at Under-21 level a few years ago. Every trip I have come on he has treated me with respect and has encouraged me.

"He has kicked me up the backside a few times when I have needed it, but, like I said, that is what you expected from a good manger - that is what he is. I have the utmost respect for him."

Now Wickham must purely focus on working under Di Canio, provided he is not moved on by the Italian before pre-season begins next month.

Sunderland are pressing ahead with attempts to bolster their forward line and Inter Milan's 20-year-old striker Alfred Duncan is another under consideration.

Angeloni, the former chief scout at Inter, knows all about the Ghanaian, who spent the second half of last season playing at Livorno alongside another Sunderland attacking target, Paulinho.

Wolfsburg's 24-year-old striker Bas Dost has also been short-listed but Sunderland face competition from Aston Villa, Swansea and West Ham for the £7.5m-rated player.