The defender was a summer signing from Chelsea in the transfer window.
Sunderland manager David Moyes
Sunderland manager David Moyes has told the Chronicle that Papy Djilobodji will need schooling to get up to Premier League standard.
The defender joined the Black Cats from Chelsea this summer having failed to make the grade at Stamford Bridge.
He has been brought to the North East to replace Younes Kaboul, who departed to make a return to London with Watford.
With defensive problems plaguing Sunderland Djilobodji has been handed an immediate place in the first team, featuring against both Middlesbrough and Southampton.
Sunderland’s Papy Djilobodji in action with Middlesbrough’s George Friend
He has looked shaky in both of those games and Moyes admits that he will need schooling, with improving his positioning high on the agenda.
“He needs a lot of schooling, that’s what I would say,” he told the Chronicle.
“I’ve got an awful lot of work to do on the training ground just to get the Britishness into him. I don’t want to take out all his natural ability. The things I’m looking to do are more to get him positionally correct.”
Sunderland’s Papy Djilobodji in action with Middlesbrough’s Antonio Barragan
Moyes certainly has a major decision to make about his central defensive pairing this season.
Keeping Lamine Kone is a big plus point, but who plays alongside him in the heart of the defence is far from certain.
Both Djilobodji and deadline day signing Jason Denayer are untested at Premier League level and will likely need extensive work on the training ground before being ready to star for his side this season.
Sunderland manager David Moyes
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