HE might have had a miserable season at club level, but Sunderland striker Connor Wickham is hoping a trip to the European Under-21 Championships enables him to end the current campaign on a high.

With Martin O'Neill consistently refusing to name Wickham in his side, the 19-year-old has made just one Premier League start and seven substitute appearances this term.

He scored in the final game of a loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday, but the tale of his domestic season has been one of frustration.

At international level, however, it has been a different story, with Wickham having developed into a key member of an England Under-21 side that has recorded a record-breaking nine wins on the bounce in preparation for this summer's European Championships in Israel.

The former Ipswich trainee scored in Monday's 4-0 win over Austria, and was named man of the match, and now looks certain to be part of Stuart Pearce's squad this summer.

"I would like to think I have sealed a place," said Wickham, who could yet emerge as a key part of Sunderland's end to the season given that Steven Fletcher faces at least a month on the sidelines with an ankle injury. "I've scored a few goals throughout the campaign.

"I've scored again against Austria and got two man-of-the-match awards so hopefully it will be in the gaffer's mind.

"But, at the end of the day, it is his choice. He will take who he wants to take, the strongest squad. I think anybody involved with the campaign is in with a shout of getting on the plane."

And with England's youngsters having swept all before them this season, anyone travelling to Israel will depart with a decent chance of returning with a medal.

"We've had a great record and obviously going into the tournament, other teams will know what we have done in the lead-up to Israel," said Wickham. "They will know we are nine games unbeaten and haven't conceded a goal so I think it puts us in a really strong position going into the tournament.

"It's just down to the players now to keep playing, keep working hard and keep fit. Hopefully we will take the strongest team possible to Israel."

* Sunderland midfielder Adam Reed has joined League Two strugglers York City on loan until the end of the season.

Hartlepool-born Reed, who is due to become a free agent in the summer, has already made ten appearances on loan at Portsmouth this season.