David Moyes says Sunderland can climb the table if all of his forwards contribute
Friday 30 December 2016 12:59, UK
Sunderland boss David Moyes is convinced the team can move clear of relegation trouble if his strikers can replicate the form of Jermain Defoe.
Defoe's eight goals to date this season have helped to get the Black Cats back in touch with the race for survival, but until Fabio Borini struck at Manchester United on Boxing Day, only fellow striker Victor Anichebe and full-back Patrick van Aanholt, as well as Leicester defender Robert Huth, had found the back of the net in the Premier League this season.
Sunderland insist they will not allow Defoe to leave if any offers come in for the 34-year-old in January, with West Ham boss Slaven Bilic having made little secret of his admiration of the player.
But Moyes is looking for the likes of Adnan Januzaj, Anichebe, and Borini, who scored a spectacular goal at Old Trafford, contributing more.
"He scored a really good goal and I am pleased that he has added to our goalscoring tally, but in a way, I would rather when it was 3-0 that he had kept it until another day where it was one which might have really mattered," he said.
"But I still think if you get him, you get Defoe, you get Victor, you get Adnan - we have actually got people who are capable of scoring and making goals, and we are going to need them to produce between now and the end of the season."
While financial restrictions will limit what Moyes can do to reshape his squad during the January transfer window, he remains confident he can strengthen.
Moyes said: "I've spoken with the owner and I think there's a chance that maybe we could try to do things if the right things turn up, so we can only look and see.
"And the other thing is, I have always been an expensive seller."
In the meantime, Sunderland will attempt to ease themselves out of the drop zone on Saturday with a difficult trip to Turf Moor, where promoted Burnley have collected 19 of their 20 points to date this season.
And Moyes has been impressed by the work ethic at Burnley this season.
"You might not necessarily pick out loads of individuals, but you'd pick out a good team and that's what makes them dangerous. It's probably the reason why they have picked up many good home results this season," Moyes said.
