I can handle pressure at Sunderland - Nicklas Bendtner

Bendtner made his Sunderland debut in Saturday's 2-1 defeat by Chelsea

Sunderland striker Nicklas Bendtner is confident he can fill the void left by the departure of Ghana attacker Asamoah Gyan to Al-Ain last week.

The Denmark international, 23, joined on a season-long loan from Arsenal as a partner for Gyan but now finds himself the senior forward at the club.

"I can cope fine with the pressure," Bendtner told BBC Newcastle.

"It's a massive season for me, I've not reached my ambitions with Arsenal, going here on loan was a good move."

Bendtner added: "I want to give my best and give 100% every time I go onto the pitch, and score the goals.

"That's the main thing for any striker so that's what I want to try to do."

Saturday's 2-1 defeat by Chelsea ensured Bendtner would make a losing start to life on Wearside, although he remains convinced of the quality at the Stadium of Light.

"We have got good players, good team spirit, and when the new players combine I think we can do really well in the Premier League," Bendtner continued.

"We can play against any team, physically we are strong, we have good headers of the ball who are not afraid to put their foot in and tackle.

"On the other side we can also play, we saw in glimpses that when we do get the ball down, turn and do play we create chances and look dangerous, we've just got to do more of it."

Sunderland, who are 16th in the Premier League, welcome Stoke City to the Stadium of Light on Sunday, 18 September.