MARTIN O'Neill has challenged Nicklas Bendtner to make the most of what could turn out to be a pivotal season in his career.

Bendtner is approaching the halfway stage of his season-long loan at Sunderland, and while he has suffered from a lack of support in recent matches, a tally of two goals from ten Premier League outings still represents a disappointing return.

He was particularly below-par in last weekend's 2-1 defeat at Wolves.

Bendtner has not trained all week because of a groin problem sustained at Molineux, but should be available for tomorrow's home game with Blackburn.

And with Sunderland's attacking options limited following the loan departure of Asamoah Gyan and an injury to Connor Wickham, O'Neill is hoping the Denmark international can rediscover his goalscoring form.

"It's paramount to get the best out of Nicklas," said the Black Cats boss. "He has a lot of natural talent, but wasn't always in the starting line-up at Arsenal.

"They have allowed him to come up here and it's an important time for him. This season is one where he can come through and score some goals.

"He might have to adapt to a different style of play because Arsenal tend to have the ball all the time in the vast majority of matches. With respect, we might not have the ball as often as that.

"So he'll have to adjust and readjust during the course of a game. Most importantly, he has to get some goals."

Goals have proved hard to come by for all Sunderland's players this season - they have scored 16 in 14 matches - and O'Neill has made improving his side's attacking threat a leading priority.

He watched the reserves record a 6-3 win over Manchester United on Thursday night, and saw Ryan Noble score his third second-string hat-trick in four outings.

The 19-year-old, who enjoyed a brief run-out as a substitute last weekend, was largely ignored by Steve Bruce, who felt he lacked the physical strength required to play in the Premier League.

O'Neill clearly harbours similar reservations, but admits to being impressed by the Wearsider's effectiveness on Thursday evening. As a result, Noble is set to be back on the bench tomorrow.

"I saw Ryan come on for a couple of minutes at the weekend, but that obviously didn't throw any light on anything," said O'Neill. "I watched him again (on Thursday) and I think he'd say himself that he's still not physically as strong as he would like to be, largely because of the injury problems he's had.

"He definitely has an eye for goal. The Premier League is particularly tough, but he took two of his goals this week wonderfully well. He's learning the game, but it's nice to see that kind of talent beneath the first team.

"I didn't realise that he'd scored quite the number of goals in the reserves that he has. But it's hard for me to make a rounded assessment from one game."

O'Neill was also impressed by the performance of young Irish midfielder James McClean on Thursday night.

"James gives you absolutely everything," he said. "He was picking the ball up in the howling wind (for the reserves) and even though he lost it a couple of times, he then came on really strongly.

"He's got a great attitude and I couldn't fault him. He's as courageous as they come and he's quite physically strong. Hopefully, he'll try to force his way into the side. Now the Premier League would be very new to him, but even so he was impressive."

O'Neill is still to decide on tomorrow's starting line-up. Phil Bardsley is suffering from an ankle injury that has been troubling him for the last two matches, while John O'Shea has been unable to train this week because of a minor knock.

It is hoped they, and Bendtner, will all make it, but skipper Lee Cattermole will be sidelined after picking up his fifth booking of the season.

O'Neill, who is set to recall Craig Gardner, who he managed at Aston Villa, will have to designate a new captain.

He is keen to stress it will be a temporary arrangement until he has had time to make a more rounded assessment.

"Obviously there's the captaincy for Sunday to consider," he said. "But beyond that I wouldn't have considered changing anything at this minute until I really got to know the players."

Steve Kean is confident his Blackburn side can spoil O'Neill's debut and claims all the pressure will be on Sunderland's new manager.

Rovers know that victory would take them out of the bottom three, leapfrogging Sunderland in the process.

Kean said: ''I think their fans will be expecting that something is going to happen this weekend so there will be big pressure on them.

''I certainly think there will be an excitement and a buzz about the place but we've just got to go and do our own business.''

Blackburn achieved only their second league win of the season last week when four goals from Ayegbeni Yakubu secured a 4-2 victory over Swansea and Kean said the target of escaping the relegation zone should inspire his players.

''Last week was the first three points in a block of games where we feel we can pick up points. What we have to do now is continue to work on the defensive side," he said.

''If we can keep all the defenders fit that could be the key and with the amount of chances we are scoring and making that would be good combination.''

Kean, who met the club board this week to discuss transfer targets, said he was looking for experienced players to shore up the squad in January.

He added: ''We are looking in all areas of the pitch but we have enough up-and-coming young players so we need to add a bit of experience.''

Kean would not be drawn on whether Ghana's 31-year-old World Cup skipper Stephen Appiah had impressed in a trial this week.

Appiah, a former Juventus and Fenerbahce midfielder, is currently without a club after leaving Italian side Cesena last season and has claimed Blackburn are interested in signing him on a one-year deal if he can get fit.

Meanwhile, Martin Olsson will have a fitness test today to see if he play tomorrow. He has been out with a hamstring injury and Ruben Rochina is also doubtful.