NICKLAS BENDTNER has had international concerns this week, but he is satisfied his Sunderland team-mates can spring a surprise on his parent club when he returns to Wearside.

The Dane, who aims to follow up last night's Euro 2012 qualifier with Cyprus by defeating Portugal on Tuesday, will be ineligible under the terms of his season-long agreement when the Black Cats head for the Emirates a week tomorrow.

There is just a point and a place separating the clubs towards the wrong end of the Premier League, with Sunderland two points off the relegation zone.

While it has been widely documented that Arsenal, whose manager Arsene Wenger's position is vulnerable, are in a false position, Bendtner also thinks Sunderland will soon be much higher.

The 23-year-old agreed to move to the Stadium of Light to revive his career and help Sunderland achieve top ten status for the second season in a row.

Bendtner said: "It's frustrating that I won't be facing Arsenal. It is a tough place. We know how Arsenal will play.

"We have great players here. It is down to us to prove that and not just talk about it. We would rather show on the pitch that we should be on the other side of the table.

"I am sure we will prove that in the weeks to come. We are good enough and strong enough but we just need back-to-back wins."

In his three matches at Sunderland, Bendtner has worked alongside Stephane Sessegnon up front and there were indications in the 2-2 draw with West Brom last weekend that the pairing could work.

"You can see that Sessegnon and I are starting to gel together," said Bendtner, who has scored once while his striker partner is yet to find the net this season.

"We are trying to find each other, looking for the balls to put one another in, in training. We put a lot of work in to see if we can find the runs and the goals we do in training.

"I was delighted to get my first goal and it was Sessegnon who played a part in it. It is always special to get off the mark. It was always going to come at one point if you keep putting yourself in amongst the chances."

n Six of Sunderland's Premier League fixtures during the festive period have been rescheduled.

The trip to Wolves - originally kicking off at 3pm on December 3 - will now be a televised 4pm start on December 4, with the Black Cats facing the Sky cameras again a week later when Blackburn visit the Stadium of Light, the game moved to a 1.30pm start on Sunday, December 11.

Sunderland's trip to Tottenham has been put back a day to Sunday, December 18 due to the hosts' Europa League commitments, but will remain a 3pm kick-off, forcing the Black Cats' midweek return to the capital to face Queens Park Rangers back a day to 8pm on Wednesday, December 21.

The final fixture selected for broadcast on Sky, at home to Manchester City, will move from New Year's Eve to a 3pm kick-off on New Year's Day. The trip to Wigan has moved from Monday, January 2, to a 7.45pm kick-off on Tuesday, January 3.