Dick Advocaat has backed Jeremain Lens to boost Sunderland's threat in front of goal during the 2015-16 Premier League season.

Only Burnley scored fewer goals than the Black Cats last season, who finished the 38-match campaign with just 31 goals, five of which were scored by Connor Wickham, who has now joined Crystal Palace.

The former Dynamo Kiev winger, who played for Advocaat at PSV Eindhoven and AZ Alkmaar, joined the club last month, and the manager said at his pre-match press conference: "We had a problem last season making goals and also creating chances, so something was wrong in both midfield and up front and that's why we bought Lens.

"He is a very good addition who has pace and can score goals. If we can play attacking football then we have the players who can do that. We have brought in players who improve the squad. Too many players last season were very sure of their position and that is more difficult this season.

"The most important thing is that you have competition, that everybody has to fight for their places. You can see now in training that that is improving."

Lens scored three goals in 12 appearances for Kiev last season.