PDC: ‘Wickham needs a slap’

Sunderland head coach Paolo Di Canio says he may have to ‘slap’ striker Connor Wickham in order to motivate the 20 year-old frontman.

Wickham, who has scored just once in seven Premier League starts for Sunderland, returned to first-team action against Southampton on Sunday following a calf injury.

Known for his confrontational style at previous club Swindon Town, Di Canio’s calling out of Wickham is the first time that the irrepressible Italian has picked on one of his players.

The former Ipswich Town striker has struggled to break into the first-team picture at the Stadium of Light following his £8.1m move from Suffolk nearly two years ago.

‘Maybe, with this guy, I have to slap his face a little bit,’ Di Canio told The Daily Mail.

Di Canio also criticised the England U21 striker’s laid-back attitude around the training ground.

‘I’m talking about motivating him in a genuine way because he has so much potential.

‘But sometimes he comes in [to training] and he seems to be looking around saying: “Where am I?” I want to say: “You are on the football pitch, with the grass,’ exclaimed Di Canio.

Not content with criticising Wickham’s attitude, Di Canio also labelled the striker a ‘playboy model’ and lamented his decision to wear ‘small t-shirts’:

‘He is an intelligent guy, but once he seemed to be complaining because it was wet. I told him that is typical for this area. Maybe if he doesn’t go out in a small t-shirt when it is wet and cold, he won’t be complaining. I have told him: ‘No small t-shirts.”