Martin O'Neill has backed newest signing Danny Rose to carry on progressing after the left-back made his Sunderland debut against Liverpool.

Rose was handed his first start and played 72 minutes as Steven Fletcher's opener was cancelled out by Luis Suarez.

The run-out was the defender's first domestic match action of the season and O'Neill was impressed with what he saw.

"Danny Rose was getting tired as the game went on and he came off with a little bit of a groin strain," he said.

"He's played for the [England] under-21s but those games don't have the same tempo as Barclays Premier League games, week in, week out.

"The run-out will have done him the world of good. I though he did fine up against some very good players in the Liverpool side.

"Over the course of the season I think he'll do well for us."