Sunderland winger Jeremain Lens has suggested that he could leave the Premier League club in January after seemingly dropping out of contention since Sam Allardyce's appointment as manager.

The 28-year-old was left out of the first-team squad for Saturday's trip to Chelsea and fined two weeks' wages for not taking part in a training exercise the week before.

Lens only joined Sunderland in the summer from Dynamo Kiev, but has said that he might be keen to move on as it is "annoying" that he has not featured regularly of late.

"It's definitely annoying," the Dutchman told FOX Sports. "I am not playing and I did not come to the Premier League to sit on the bench. Something will have to change anything. What, we will see though.

"A transfer in the winter? That could happen. Once the window is open, we will see what will happen."

Lens has not started a Premier League game since the 3-0 win over North-East rivals Newcastle United on October 25.