Sunderland winger admits he has a 'point to prove' as he looks to extend Birmingham loan deal

And the winger, who scored the opener against Ipswich Town on his starting debut, is looking to stay with the Championship side until the end of the season.

The 26-year-old joined on an initial month-long loan but all parties are keen to extend the deal.

Buckley is looking to use his loan spell at Birmingham to kick-start his career after struggling at the Stadium of Light since his £2.5 million move from Brighton & Hove Albion.

"Obviously the club had to see me because I had not played for a while, more for them the initial month loan," said Buckley.

"But, yes, I want to stay until the end of the season, hopefully that can be the case.

"I just want to get out there and play games and get fitter and stronger and hopefully I can score some more goals.

"There's been no injury, just a general lack of games.

"Just fitness and Birmingham had not seen me play for a while, so it was more of a caution thing for them to take me for a month.

"Hopefully I can repay the club with good performances."

And the wideman isn't shy in admitting he has a point to prove.

He added: "Football is all about opinions. Some might think you are no good, some might think you are brilliant.

"You have got to prove people wrong who don't rate you.

"At the start of the season Birmingham weren't expected to be where they are and how they are doing.

"But it shows that clubs can surprise people and that's certainly what's happening here."

City boss Gary Rowett admits the 'extra motivation' Buckley brings with him to Blues is something he likes, with the manager keen to extend his loan spell.

Rowett said: "We know he is a terrific player, we know he is highly proven at this level and he's the sort of player who with a smile on his face and enjoying his football is a big asset.

"There's no real shame in saying his last good spell was at Brighton. Sunderland is difficult place, they're fighting for their Premier League lives.

"It didn't go as well for Will at Leeds United (on loan in October) perhaps because of the change of manager.

"But they're the type of players I like.

"You can just sense the extra motivation. Will's motivated to do well, to prove to people, to reignite himself again, to show what he is like and get back to what he was like at Brighton."

"We brought him in for the month [initially] as he's not been fit and played many games.

"It was the first time he trained for a couple of weeks when he came to us.

"But there's an opportunity to extend in the next couple of weeks and we will look to do that."