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Gus Poyet has ordered his Sunderland players to start creating chances for striker Jozy Altidore - so he doesn't suffer another Premier League goal drought.

Altidore returns to Hull's KC Stadium on Saturday, carrying unhappy memories of his 2009-10 season on loan at the Tigers, where he played 28 times in the league, making 16 starts, but scored only one goal.

The 23-year-old American has yet to open his league account for Sunderland since a £6.5million move from Dutch side AZ Alkmaar, although he scored once in the Capital One Cup against MK Dons.

The burly striker has huge potential in front of goal, having netted 38 times in 67 games for Alkmaar in the Dutch league over two seasons before joining the Black Cats.

He also has an excellent international record - a vital cog in the United States team that has qualified for next summer's World Cup bid, he's scored 21 goals in 64 caps.

But Altidore has yet to shine in front of goal at the Stadium of Light, although his hard work and build up play gives the side and important focal point.

Poyet is ready to back Altidore and said: "It's not like you put him on the pitch and say, 'Go on Jozy - score 20 this season.' We haven't created enough chances for him to score goals yet.

"It is a 50-50 responsibility - one is the team, the other is Jozy himself.

"I saw him this week and he looks happier. He is delighted with the win against Newcastle and that he played and felt important in the team.

"I don't want to put any pressure on him against Hull, but I'm sure we will see a goal very soon and then everything will change I suppose. It's about that confidence that strikers need.

"I believe in Jozy for many different reasons.

"One, because I have been with him for two weeks now, I've seen him training and seen how strong he is and how much he wants to score.

"He did absolutely fantastic tactical work against Newcastle, which sometimes you don't realise but it was important for the team in terms of shape and organisation.

Here's a look at what Altidore CAN do:

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"I would like to see him sometimes on his own up front - a proper, main striker - not only with Fletcher. Maybe in another game.

"It's a combination. I always say for a striker to score, especially with the characteristic of Jozy, he needs to have a quality of finishing but then we also need to provide and create."

Poyet has banned all talk of last Sunday's derby win, because it was only the start of a long haul back to safety - even victory over Hull will not lift Sunderland out of the bottom three.

He said: "We couldn't find a win, somehow... because of our position, because of us, the second half performances, concentration, individual mistakes, sending offs... there was always something.

"The Newcastle game was the perfect one to win and change the season. Now we have won it, we are not going to go back and talk about it.

"I am still believing, and I confident. The idea was to convince the players, so now it should be a little bit easier. The key now is for them.

"Now it is about Hull, but the feelings are totally different because we won a game. It was something which looked impossible before last weekend."