Jay Rodriguez scores as Southampton draw with Sunderland

“This is a month most of us enjoy, but going on recent years it’s one Sunderland have been keen to see the back of, as they’ve gone 16 matches without a Premier League win in August”.

Moyes will look to sign another goalkeeper during what remains of the summer transfer window, but under-21 global Pickford, who spent last season on loan at Preston, will get the nod at Southampton on Saturday after playing in Wednesday night’s 1-0 EFL Cup second-round victory over Shrewsbury, and Moyes is confident he has got what it takes.

Jordan Pickford, the England Under-21s global, is set for his third Premier League start against Southampton this afternoon and his manager is confident the local lad can produce for him.

“David Moyes says he was simply being realistic when warning Sunderland fans to expect their nearly traditional relegation battle once again this season and based on their performance against Middlesbrough you can perhaps see why”.

A number of players will face late fitness test before Sunderland take on Southampton tomorrow.

It’s still early days but Javi Manquillo was very impressive on his Sunderland debut and if we can get a settled back four with him on the right hand side, I’m positive that we’ll be fine. “I’ve had talks with two or three players and clubs and we’re sort of messing along with them”.

“We started the game fantastically, but we had to score in this moment”. If you’re a player and you’re here, you play.

But the experienced manager, after spells with Preston, Everton, Manchester United and Real Sociedad before turning up on Wearside, is convinced he knows exactly what is required – he just needs time to do it.

The 27-year-old will insist his late goal underscores his lasting abilities however, as he hit the Premier League net for the first time since a brace in Southampton’s 4-0 win over Newcastle at St Mary’s on March 29, 2014. “He knows. He said to me “sorry about the mistake”.

First Nathan Redmond shot straight at Pickford, but then the young goalkeeper produced a save of the highest quality by diving full length to deny Shane Long.

“It was unfortunate because he played really well today”, he told Sky Sports. They had one or two chances, but we did enough to get something.

He said: “Vito has torn ligaments in his elbow and we’re waiting to see whether it will require surgery”.

“I am happy for Jay to score this afternoon”.