Lee Cattermole has said that Gus Poyet has reassured Sunderland's players that they have a strong enough squad to stay in the Premier League.

Poyet took over from Paolo Di Canio at the Stadium of Light early in the season, but a goalless draw with West Ham United yesterday means that the club will be bottom of the table over Christmas.

The 25-year-old told Sky Sports News: "All we can do is take confidence from the game. The manager said it is the best performance he has seen from his Sunderland side, we controlled the game throughout.

"The message from the manager is that if we play like that for the rest of the season we will have no worries.

"We have got a good squad of players. Obviously we are bottom of the league but there is a lot of quality. The gaffer has rotated quite a bit and I think he is just trying to find his best XI."

Sunderland have not secured a win in the last five top-flight matches.