The 22-year-old Irishman played his part in a gutsy display against title-chasers Chelsea on Saturday which saw the Black Cats come within inches of snatching a deserved draw.

Like his team-mates and manager Roy Keane, he left the Stadium of Light after the game disappointed to be doing so without something to show for his efforts, but convinced that more performances in the same vein will see his side avoid relegation.

Sunderland head for Aston Villa next Saturday still awaiting their first away win in the league and having lost their last two home matches to leave themselves uncomfortably close to the drop zone.

But O'Donovan is convinced there is better to come as a dramatic climax fast approaches.

O'Donovan said: "We have got eight games left, eight cup finals as the cliche goes, and I want to be involved as much as I can.

"We were a bounce of the ball away from winning the game on Saturday, just something going our way, but it wasn't to be.

"But we need to forget about all the games that have gone before and start afresh next week against Aston Villa away in a tough game.

"We need to start getting results. I know we are not doing too badly and we are not in the bottom three at the moment, but we deserve more than having to fight against relegation because we have good players in the dressing room."