Sunderland defender Wes Brown has stepped up his return to action after a year on the sidelines through injury.

Black Cats manager Martin O'Neill has revealed that the former Manchester United player has been working "exceptionally hard" to get back to full fitness after suffering a number of setbacks on a knee problem.

"Wes is making good progress, although the number of times I've said that is unbelievable," O'Neill told the Sunderland Echo. "He's not that far away again from getting back into training.

"He's had a few setbacks, but he's working exceptionally hard. It's been a frustrating time for him and it must get you down when you're out for that length of time."

Brown has only played seven times under the 12-month leadership of O'Neill.