Adam Johnson out of play for eight weeks

So it’s not really been about minutes for me. We have to realise we have a team who has to fight.

In a long season which is sure to be hard for Defoe and his team mates, and with the next two fixtures now being seen as crucial, they could prove to be pivotal for their confidence ahead of the rest of the season. It’s been about maintaining me and making sure I didn’t blow up over pre-season.

Sunderland now have two home games on the bounce, and with a full stadium behind them, they will be desperate to pick up their first points of the season.

The Black Cats’ problems in front of goal are illustrated by the fact Fletcher finished as the club’s top scorer in the Premier League with five – despite a six- month goal drought which lasted from the start of November until the final day of the campaign in May.

“First game is now Norwich”.

“I has happy with that, although the result was very disappointing”.

“This was only the first game of the season, so there is no panicking as yet”.

Johnson is due to undergo further tests on Wednesday evening, but Black Cats boss Dick Avocaat is expecting him to be sidelined for a minimum of eight weeks.

Advocaat said: “You can’t lose the way we lost”.

The report indicates that John O’Shea may not have the bit-part role that Brown has going forward, as the Sunderland captain is said to be in contention for this weekend’s clash with Norwich City at the Stadium of Light.

“I think he is just biding his time, really, and hopefully it will be this weekend”.

“But that’s down to the gaffer, not me”.