Fit-again Sunderland captain Dean Whitehead is full of praise for new England U21 cap Grant Leadbitter over his Premiership form this season.

Whitehead told his club's website: "Grant has played particularly well.

"He has managed to get quite a few games in for the side and he thoroughly deserved his call-up to the England Under-21s.

"So even when I do get back playing regularly again, I'll have to push myself to get past the rest of the lads.

"That's how it should be though because clubs need competition for places and the situation should always exist that no-one has an automatic right to a place."