Ricky Sbragia believes Carlos Edwards is key to Sunderland Football Club’s bid to avoid relegation from the Premier League.

The winger has suffered injury problems and a lack of form for the Black Cats this season, but Sbragia believes the Trinidad & Tobago international can play a key role in the run-in.

"Carlos is the one player we have got who can get behind teams, and that's a valuable quality to have," Sbragia told the Sunderland Echo.

"We have got Andy Reid who can put a great ball in from the wing, Steed Malbranque who can thread a lovely pass or show great vision, but Carlos is the one who has the pace to get in behind teams to put a cross over, and that's something we have lacked generally."