Jermain Defoe unhappy with substitute role at Sunderland
Wednesday 21 October 2015 14:07, UK
Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe says he will not be satisfied if new boss Sam Allardyce continues to keep him on the bench.
The 33-year-old was used as a second-half substitute for the Black Cats in Allardyce's first game in charge, Saturday's 1-0 Premier League defeat at West Brom.
Allardyce seemed determined to bring a greater defensive solidity to the team he inherited from predecessor Dick Advocaat.
Defoe, who joined the club in a swap deal with Toronto-bound United States international Jozy Altidore in January, played much of his football under the Dutchman wide in a three-man front line, something which did not make the most of his proven goalscoring talent.
Defoe told The Journal: "The manager knows. I'm 33, I want to play games. If you speak to any of the boys, everyone wants to play. Yeah, the manager picks the team - you've got to respect that - but at the same time, it doesn't mean you have to be happy about it.
"Obviously, I can understand the manager coming in and saying he's not too sure if he wants to play 4-4-2. He might want to be more solid in midfield so you don't concede goals, so we'll just see what happens.
"But at the age of 33, you want to play football. I didn't come here to sit on the bench. You want to play football and score goals. I said that from day one."
Defoe did, however, insist he was not looking for an escape route from the Stadium of Light with the January transfer window looming.
He added: "I don't think like that, I don't sit there and think, 'Well, come January I'm going to go'.
"I've just got to focus on the games, stay positive and, if I play then, I've got to do my best, work hard and hopefully score."
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