Sam Allardyce tells Jeremain Lens 'show me your talent'

Sam Allardyce has told summer signing Jeremain Lens to 'get on the pitch and show me your talent.'

The Dutchman, who joined the Black Cats from Dynamo Kiev during the summer, has just returned to Sunderland's first team squad having recently been omitted for disciplinary reasons.

Lens was brought to Wearside by former boss Dick Advocaat, and he recently suggested he may seek a move away from the Stadium of Light during January's transfer window.

But now Allardyce, the Sunderland manager, wants the 28-year-old to highlight his talent, possibly starting with Boxing Day's game against Manchester City.

Allardyce said: "Get on the pitch and show us what you can do and prove to us all that you're the talent we expected with the performances that have been achieved in other parts of the world.

"I'd like to see some of that, and hopefully that can be the case, him pushing on from now on."

Lens has not started a match since they beat Newcastle on October 25 and Allardyce added: "He is one of our biggest signings. We have been through our process to get it right, we are both of the same opinion in terms of how we go forward.

"I have put him back in the squad and when he gets the chance to play, let's hope he can grasp that chance and prove that he's an immense talent, as has been shown in other countries."

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As for the possibility of Lens moving on next month, he added: "If he comes to me and tells me which club is going to buy him, then we will probably look at it and maybe come to a mutual agreement.

"If him and his agent want to find a football club and say, 'Here we are, we want to go here and here is this amount of money' or more than we paid for him, then I may well say 'yes'."