He’s like pounce

Gabbiadini is hoping Victor Anichebe has recovered from a knee injury in time to face Watford on April 1 so that can change.

“People get a bit bogged down by talking about strikers playing on their own up front,” he says. “It’s all about who supports you.

“Diego Costa plays up front on his own but Chelsea are very good at getting other players up alongside him, but the issue Sunderland have is we don’t get enough players close to Jermain.

“That was one thing Dun- can Watmore was good at before he got injured.

“Jermain will always get to the ball at goalkicks and free-kicks but he needs people around him when he does.

“Too often we get stuck in our own half a bit.

“If Sunderland can get Victor Anichebe fit pretty soon that will make a big difference. It’s such a help to have a centre-forward with a bit of physical presence.

“Jermain Defoe will be praying for that too because he’s feeding off scraps at the moment.”