Do Black Cats need a 'cherished' scorer?

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Former Sunderland striker Marco Gabbiadini gave his thoughts on the side's performance against Manchester United at the weekend and lamented the lack of clinical finishing.

The Black Cats have failed to score in 13 of their 36 Premier League games, only Wolves (19) and Nottingham Forest (14) have failed to score more often in the Premier League this season.

"It's a strange one because you're sort of pleased with the performance and I thought every player played a part and as a team they were excellent but they just couldn't find that final touch because that's what it was," Gabbiadini told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"We got into great positions, we got in behind the defence, we rattled them, we played forward quickly, we did just about everything right except unfortunately the hardest bit of football and that's putting it in the back of the net. It could have been a very different result because there were three or four really good chances but that's why goal scorers are so highly cherished."

Brian Brobbey is Sunderland's top scorer in the league this season with six goals while Chemsdine Talbi has four.

Gabbiadini added: "I was watching Callum Wilson for . He comes on and within a couple of minutes he's had a couple of shots on target and caused problems. Players like that just have it in them that they want to go for goal. It's the desire to get in the right position and finish it off.