---
title: "Wickham ‘million times happier’ away from Sunderland"
canonical: "https://readsunderland.com/2015/11/22/wickham-million-times-happier-away-sunderland/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Daniel Emery"
section: "Articles"
published: "2015-11-22T14:48:47Z"
modified: "2015-11-22T14:48:47Z"
---

# Wickham ‘million times happier’ away from Sunderland

Ex-Sunderland frontman Connor Wickham has [blamed](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/sunderland-afc/latest-safc-news/safc-match-analysis/connor-wickham-a-million-times-happier-at-crystal-palace-than-sunderland-1-7584072) his lack of chances upfront for Sunderland as the reason behind his Black Cats career not hitting off.

He joined Sunderland from Championship side Ipswich Town for a £8m fee when he was just 17-years-old but failed to ever live up to the hype of his transfer fee before eventually being sold this summer to Crystal Palace for £9m.

He scored just 11 Premier League goals in his four years at The Stadium Of Light; playing 74 times in the English top flight for Sunderland. However, the 22-year-old forward has blamed the fact that he was featured out wide in many of them games for his lack of goals.

It was a surprise, and relief, for Sunderland fans to see that Palace actually paid £9m for the Englishman as he has not ever established himself as a Premier League goalscorer. Palace have already found that out the hard way. Wickham has played just four times in the league this season; scoring a whopping zero goals.

![Paul Thomas/Getty Images Sport](https://readsunderland.com/https://media.readsunderland.com/readsunderland/2015/11/4727496481.jpg)

Speaking about his time at Sunderland ahead of his new sides clash with them tomorrow, Wickham said this:

> I had four years up at Sunderland and I’m grateful for what they did for me. But now I’ve a new project.

> I got five goals to help them avoid the drop. That was a good period for me. I’ve always known I can score goals.

> That was the only time I was given a chance to play as a striker there and prove I could do it.

> But the following season I went back to playing on the left and my confidence got knocked again.

> Now I have come to a club which has a manager who believes in me.

> I’m a million times happier at Palace than I was at Sunderland.

> I can play down the middle and I’ve got two wingers to run off me and two who will run in behind me.