Jermain Defoe has not scored a league goal for two months

Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe says he will not be satisfied if new boss Sam Allardyce continues to keep him on the bench.

The 33-year-old was used as a second-half substitute for the Black Cats in Allardyce's first game in charge, Saturday's 1-0 Premier League defeat at West Brom.

Allardyce seemed determined to bring a greater defensive solidity to the team he inherited from predecessor Dick Advocaat.

Defoe, who joined the club in a swap deal with Toronto-bound United States international Jozy Altidore in January, played much of his football under the Dutchman wide in a three-man front line, something which did not make the most of his proven goalscoring talent.

Defoe told The Journal: "The manager knows. I'm 33, I want to play games. If you speak to any of the boys, everyone wants to play. Yeah, the manager picks the team - you've got to respect that - but at the same time, it doesn't mean you have to be happy about it.

"Obviously, I can understand the manager coming in and saying he's not too sure if he wants to play 4-4-2. He might want to be more solid in midfield so you don't concede goals, so we'll just see what happens.

"But at the age of 33, you want to play football. I didn't come here to sit on the bench. You want to play football and score goals. I said that from day one."

Defoe did, however, insist he was not looking for an escape route from the Stadium of Light with the January transfer window looming.

Sam Allardyce's first match as Sunderland manager ended in defeat, they lost 1-0 to West Brom Sam Allardyce's first match as Sunderland manager ended in defeat, they lost 1-0 to West Brom

He added: "I don't think like that, I don't sit there and think, 'Well, come January I'm going to go'.

"I've just got to focus on the games, stay positive and, if I play then, I've got to do my best, work hard and hopefully score."