As quoted by the Shields Gazette, Chris Coleman has moved to praise Ashley Fletcher and has looked to ease any fears the striker has about his lack of goals at the club.

Fletcher has got potential - there must have been a reason he was at Manchester United - but since his Barnsley spell he's been at West Ham and Middlesbrough and neither have really worked out.

He's on loan at Sunderland from Boro for the rest of the season, then, and is tasked with firing them to safety after James Vaughan and Lewis Grabban left in the last window.

So far, though, he's not scored a goal and that is bound to be playing on his and on the fans' minds right now.

Even so, Coleman can see that he's got ability and that he just needs to calm down in front of goal, with his surroundings a lot different to his time at Oakwell:

"I think he just needs to score to calm himself down in a way. He did some really good things in his play at Bolton. He was unlucky not to score at Bristol City and at Bolton he had the one-on-one but his second touch just took him too close to the goalkeeper.

“It’s a big thing to be Sunderland’s number nine, no disrespect to Barnsley but it is very different having that here. He is a terrific kid and we are here to help him."

The Verdict

There's definitely potential with Fletcher but he is so short of confidence right now.

One goal might just do it but Sunderland need it to happen quickly as there is only so many games left in the season for them to get to safety now.

If he can get them safe, though, that will certainly boost his confidence.

Thoughts, Sunderland fans? Let us know below!