Sunderland must be smarter to set up goals for Jermain Defoe

Jermain Defoe in action at Southampton in the EFL Cup

Sunderland's creative players have to be smarter in order to get the best out of top scorer Jermain Defoe, says David Moyes.

The 34-year-old has hit four goals in 10 appearances so far this season, but he hasn’t found the back of the net in the past four games.

Moyes says that Defoe’s team-mates have a “terrible habit” of too often trying to play long balls over the top.

Too many times this season, the former Spurs ace has been isolated up front and Moyes wants his side to get more players forward and be more creative in their passing.

Bottom-of-the-table Sunderland host Arsenal in tomorrow’s lunchtime game (kick-off 12.30pm) at the Stadium of Light, with the Black Cats without a win in nine Premier League games.

In order to get anything from the game, Sunderland will have to ensure they get the best possible service into Defoe.

“We’ve got a terrible habit of trying to hit Jermain all the time over the top, and it’s not good enough just to try to do that,” said Moyes.