Sam Allardyce believes the first step towards steering Sunderland clear of relegation this season is changing the mentality of the playing group.

The new Black Cats manager takes charge of the club for the first time when Sunderland take on West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns on Saturday.

The 60-year-old said his first priority is resorting confidence in his players as they battle to improve on winless start to the Premier League season.

"Mental fragility is there, no doubt about it,"Allardyce said, as quoted by The Guardian.

"The mental side is the one end of football that's really important.

"The psychological profile of the player and where he lies at the minute is important. And the mental fragility has to be relieved, has to be taken away by me using my experience, or the staff using their experience, to put those fears aside.

"To remind the player how good he is, why he's here, about his talent and why he's lost his way. I like to be proactive on that; not reactive. I'm managing people and my people skills are my life skills."