Five years ago England beat Spain to win the Under 17 European Championships . The winning goal came from a striker who burst powerfully into the box , between two opponents , before firing home a sweet shot into the corner beyond the keeper . A cool finish on a big occasion . A few months later , I saw him come on as a substitute in the Championship and display some clever touches and neat footwork . He stood out as one of the more technically gifted players on display in the second tier game . Fast forward a few more months and that teenage striker - playing in the Championship - picked up the ball in his own half , ran towards the opposition goal , beat two defenders , wrong-footed the keeper and slotted into an empty net . Connor Wickham made a disastrous decision to move to Sunderland when his career was flying . In the Championship , he impressed and looked like one of the most technically gifted players on the pitch . Two weeks after that he scored a hat-trick . In the summer of 2011 he made what has proved to be a catastrophic career move . He signed for Sunderland . To those who did n't follow Connor Wickham 's career before he went to the North-East , all they will know of him is that he is highly-paid , and not exactly outstanding . Sure , there was a flurry of goals to help Sunderland stay up at the back end of last season , but that has been it . Stories emerged last season of his big spending - £17,500 on a gold bottle of champagne , and a £140,000 Ferrari . These barely make a dent in his £60,000-a-week salary , and they look cheap compared with team-mate Steven Fletcher and his £260,000 Lamborghini parked next to his £160,000 Bentley . These underachieving Sunderland players do n't mind showing off their wealth , do they ? Stories have emerged of Wickham 's extravagant spending - £17,500 on a bottle of champagne , for example . In a loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday , he also impressed - there is no mistaking his ability as a footballer . Is it something about the club that means these players have no self-awareness whatsoever ? Is nobody at the club telling them that all the time they 're so truly terrible on the pitch , it might be a good idea to keep things on the down low off the pitch ? One of Wickham 's managers called him ' a playboy model , ' and said he needed a 'slap in the face ' to help him realise his talent . And make no mistake , Wickham is a very talented footballer . Unfortunately he chose the wrong club . Since Wickham joined Sunderland he has had 10 different managers at club level , including his loan spells . That is not the ideal environment for young talent to be nurtured and flourish . Managers come and go so quickly that the pressure for immediate results is huge , so the time a manager can devote to individual players on and off the pitch is restricted . Wickham should be spearheading England Under 21s ' Euro campaign but he has not been selected . The 21-year-old has been stuck out on the left for Sunderland when he is clearly a centre-forward . At a more stable club , the chances are that Wickham might have a better environment to succeed . On the pitch he has been stuck out on the left when he is obviously a centre forward . That 's where he did so well at the end of last season . Off the pitch , has the so-called 'playboy model ' been guided properly ? Evidence suggests not : Gus Poyet even admitted he ignored Wickham when he first arrived at the Stadium of Light as manager . He revealed he did n't even sit down and talk to the player . Sunderland signed Wickham but their duty does n't stop there . They need to provide that player with every chance to succeed . Hopefully stability will reign at the Stadium of Light in the near future , Wickham will get the right guidance off the field , and he will be allowed to play to his strengths on the field . Sunderland need to provide their players with a chance to succeed but Wickham has not been guided . Sunderland are a basket case of a club and Wickham made the wrong decision when he joined them . Five years on from scoring a wonderful goal to win the European Championship for England I am disappointed Wickham is nowhere near the senior squad as we prepare for a Euro 2016 qualifier this week . Even more worrying , repeated pull-outs from the Under 21 squads mean he 's way down the pecking order , even with injuries this week . He should be spearheading our charge to the Euros in the Czech Republic this summer . The ongoing debate about English talent failing to develop after promising early signs needs to look at examples like Wickham . All the ability , but no significant strides made . He should have made that progression . The fact that he has n't is down to Sunderland being a complete basket case of a club . Let 's hope for Wickham 's sake – and England 's – the next chapter for Sunderland will help him become the player he should be .
Connor Wickham 's career was flying while he was at Ipswich Town . Joining Sunderland has proved to be a catastrophic career move . 260,000 of Wickham 's former managers said he needs a 'slap in the face ' Wickham has not progressed as Sunderland are a basket case of a club . READ : Adrian Durham on Arsene Wenger 's continued failure in Europe . READ : Adrian Durham on Steven Gerrard 's shattered legacy at Liverpool .