Sunderland boss Paolo Di Canio is urging his midfield to score the goals to keep the Black Cats in the Premier League. The Italian believes the likes of Adam Johnson, James McClean and Sebastian Larsson can contribute more in the attacking third.

"It will help to create more chances," said Di Canio, whose side are three points above the relegation zone.

"People like Johnson, who in the past used to run 70 yards with the ball and then arrive at the edge of the box and be empty in the legs without the chance to strike - maybe now there will be a chance that sometimes he can get the ball near the box and use his talent and maybe strike on goal.

"It's exactly the same on the other side with James (McClean) or Sebastian (Larsson).

"From the middle, one midfield player always has to attack the edge of the box so with a rebound, we are not 60 yards or 40 yards from the goal, we are close.

"The mechanism and the system will help this team to cancel out the fact that we don't have a top scorer who can turn the game on his own.

"In any instance near the box, we are going to find a way to score, I am sure.

"The fitness has grown a bit and the belief is higher that we are going to score enough goals to stay up."