Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe has scored in just one of his last six matches.
Sunderland boss David Moyes has admitted to The Guardian that Jermain Defoe simply isn’t touching the ball enough for his side.
Defoe was Sunderland’s saviour last season, as the Wearsiders narrowly avoided the drop, and he has continued his fine scoring this time around.
The veteran striker has netted 14 goals in 29 matches for the Black Cats this season, but he has only scored in one of his last six outings.
And Moyes admits that his Sunderland team are not getting Defoe enough service.
“We know if we can get the ball to Jermain [Defoe] he will get a shot away or an opportunity,” the Scottish boss said.
“We are not getting him enough service but it is because we are not getting enough good ball further up the pitch. We are scrapping to get that. I need those players, and we paid big money for a lot of them, we need them all to stand up and show what they can do.”
Sunderland lost their last match 2-0 to Everton, and Defoe once again looked Moyes’ side’s most likely scorer.
Defoe hit the crossbar with a fierce strike, which would have brought Sunderland level had it gone in.
Defoe’s chance was one of the few which Sunderland created during the contest at Goodison Park, and they were poor for much of the match.
Sunderland’s defeat to Everton means that they remain at the bottom of the Premier League table, three points away from safety.
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