Sunderland boss Gus Poyet is unsure about attracting the top drawer signings he feels his squad needs.

Poyet has coached his players to 16th in the Premier League. Asked if he thought he would get the "quality" he desires, his answer was blunt.

"I don't know," he said.

"It's obvious, even listening on the radio, what's missing. That's down to recruitment. I'm a head coach. I'm not going to be a head coach when it suits people and a manager when it doesn't.

"That side is recruitment, so if you get chance to ask any of the recruitment people you're lucky, but if not, don't ask me. If we don't get more quality, it's going to be more of the same for the whole season - 38 games, 38 points.

"Maybe we'll be safe with 38 but if we lose two or three (games) everybody will start panicking and having heart attacks. That's not enough for me. Not after last year.

"We (Poyet and Lee Congerton) have had conversations already. It's clear (what is needed). It's no problem."