Sunderland boss Gus Poyet has assured Emanuele Giaccherini he has a role to play in the club's survival battle.
The Italy international was left out of the 18 which drew with Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Poyet said: "People will ask why Giaccherini wasn't even on the bench, an Italian international and I know, it hurts. And I need him. Maybe he doesn't believe me, but I need him.
"If Fletch is not available for next week then maybe we will need Giacchi there and then he needs to help us and I'm sure he will because he's a great professional. He will be because he will probably think it was an opportunity lost for him, but we will need everybody."
