Sunderland manager Gus Poyet has expressed his delight at the performance of Will Buckley on his full debut for the club this afternoon.

The former Brighton & Hove Albion man made his first start for his new side against Manchester United at the Stadium of Light today having come off the bench for a 15-minute cameo against West Bromwich Albion last weekend.

The 24-year-old helped the Black Cats to a 1-1 draw against Louis van Gaal's side, and Poyet believes that the midfielder is already starting to show why the club were after him for so long.

"I am so pleased that he had a very good first half because now everybody knows why I was so consistent in asking the club to bring him," he told reporters.

"It took us seven and a half months - we got him here and now everybody knows why, because he is electric, because he's direct, because he brings the stands into a different feeling, the atmosphere.

"He is going to do plenty of things. Now, don't expect it every week - £2.5m. People pay £30m and £40m and £50m - we paid £2.5m, so let's be patient. But he showed why he is here and that makes me very happy."

Poyet's side will now turn their attention to the League Cup as they face Birmingham City in the second round on Wednesday.