Poyet Hoping Argentine Will Make The Difference

Sunderland manager Gus Poyet feels that when the signing of Nacho Scocco signs for the Black Cats then they will have gone a long way to solving their goal scoring problems.

With less than a goal a game on average this season, Poyet knows that it is one of, if not the biggest problem that he has to address.

The proof was there for all to see in the FA Cup tie with non league Kidderminster Harriers last weekend when Sunderland could only muster one goal on their way into the fifth round, and that came from a mistake.

Poyet told reporters: “I am not a complete stats man – I don`t think you can tell everything from one set of stats – but if you analyse stats over a series of games, in the long-term, they give you the lot.

“And we have noticed that there are a quantity of games – Cardiff away, West Ham away – where we`ve had 20 shots but only one or two on target.

“Even against Manchester United when we won in the cup, we only had one shot on target.

“So that is something we need to improve dramatically and there are ways you can do that. You can work on things in training and then of course you can bring in someone else who can do something different as well, which is why there has been all this talk of Scocco.”

The Argentine is expected to sign today on what is being reported as a two and a half year contract and at a cost of £3 million to the Black Cats.

Scocco is known for being able to play in a number of positions up front, but the Sunderland boss says that he is going to use the player as an out and out striker.