New Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce has lay down the law to veteran striker Jermain Defoe.

The 33-year-old is the club's leading scorer with five goals in all competitions so far this season but that does not necessarily mean he is set to be a starter under Allardyce's rule.

Former Tottenham star Defoe has been urged by Allardyce to add something more to his game in order to be an integral part of things at the Stadium of Light as the Black Cats look to get themselves out of an early-season rut.

"There is always a place for a goalscorer but you cannot just be a goalscorer today so I don't know if that's something we need to address with Jermain," Allardyce said.

"He came here and has not played as much as he would have liked."

Allardyce is aware that Defoe has not been producing his best in the north east but is not about to regularly throw him in his starting XI simply because he has a strong reputation due to the cut-throat nature of Sunderland's campaign.

"When I played I used to say: 'A few more games and I'll come good,' but here at Sunderland, we ain't got a few more games," he added.

"We have got this week to try to win the first game [at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday] and after that it becomes ever more difficult to win it if we don't."