Jermain Defoe has urged Sunderland fans to be patient with new manager David Moyes.

Moyes has been in the hotseat six weeks now after taking over from Sam Allardyce on July 23.

Defoe told the Sunderland Echo: “For a manager, especially one who has just come into a club, the international break is perfect.

“It gives him the time to work with the team for two weeks on the training ground.

“It is not easy, to be honest, to come into a football club and change everything overnight, that never happens. It doesn't matter how good the players are.

“Different ideas, different managers, different ways of playing – it gives him time to work with the team."