Sunderland star Jermain Defoe has expressed his delight at being handed a central striker's role by manager Sam Allardyce.
Defoe has been in fine goalscoring form recently and the striker found the back of the net for the 10th time this season during Sunderland's 2-2 draw against Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday.
The 33-year-old has now spoken regarding his strange deployment as a full-back by former manager Dick Advocaat earlier on in the season and has stated that he is now delighted at returning to his favoured striker's role under current boss Allardyce.
The veteran attacker said: "The previous manager used to play me on the left. I've never played there in my whole career - not even at school - so that was a bit strange playing as a full-back when you have always been a forward.
"For me it was frustrating because your whole career you play as a forward - and not a No 10, a No 9 - and all of a sudden you are asked to play a role you haven't before.
"I will always try to work hard for the team but it is not my natural game. It takes away your chances of getting your goals. Obviously you are not going to get goals when you are chasing full-backs, that is something I've never done before. But that was at the beginning of the season and this is now.
"Obviously this manager [Allardyce] has come in and, even though I've never played under him, he knows me, he's an experienced manager."