Sunderland boss Gus Poyet credits Adam Johnson's form to recent heart-to-heart talks.
Johnson has been outstanding for Sunderland in recent games.
Poyet revealed: "We talked a little bit at the start of December.
"I said to him there was a part of the responsibility which was Adam's and a part of the responsibility which was in the way we play.
"For Adam to perform, we have to play a certain style of football.
"We need to understand when we need to use Adam and in what areas of the field.
There are plenty of things the team have to understand, not just one player, to take advantage of Adam's ability. Slowly, we are learning and doing that."
