Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce has insisted that Jeremain Lens still has a future at the club despite the winger hinting at a January move.
The Netherlands international was dropped and fined by Allardyce after allegedly refusing to warm down having been an unused substitute in the recent 1-0 defeat to Watford.
The 28-year-old admitted that it was "annoying" not to have worked his way into Allardyce's plans, but the manager has said that he will get another chance to prove his worth.
"Get on the pitch and show us what you can do and prove to us all that you're the talent we expected with the performances that have been achieved in other parts of the world before, which obviously was why [predecessor] Dick [Advocaat] brought him here," Allardyce told reporters.
"I'd like to see some of that, and hopefully that can be the case, him pushing on from now on. Absolutely [he has a future here] because he is one of our biggest signings.
"We have been through our process to get it right, we are both of the same opinion in terms of how we go forward. I have put him back in the squad and when he gets the chance to play, let's hope he can grasp that chance and prove that he's an immense talent, as has been shown in other countries."
Sunderland currently sit 19th in the Premier League table, five points adrift of safety heading into their Boxing Day match at Manchester City.
Barney Corkhill
