It is now one year since Jozy Altidore last scored a Premier League goal – but Sunderland boss Gus Poyet insists the misfiring striker still has a future at the club.

The £6.5million former AZ Alkmaar frontman was on target during a 4-3 defeat to Chelsea at the Stadium of Light on December 4 and next week marks 12 months since his only top-flight strike for the Black Cats.

But with Chelsea the visitors to Wearside on Saturday, Poyet says that, despite his drought, the USA international will not been banished to the reserves.

Jozy Altidore has struggled to cement a place in the Sunderland first-team since joining from AZ Alkmaar

The forward (third right) celebrates with his team-mates after a penalty shootout win at Old Trafford

‘As a manager, I'm going to use him. It will be a surprise for a few,’ said Poyet, whose side face Manchester City and Liverpool on the back of the league leaders.

‘I'm not saying I’m going to use him on Saturday, but I’m going to use him in a nice way and I'll use him because we need him. He's our player and he needs to do something special for us.

‘He's not started many games under me but in these three games we need to use the squad very well.

‘They're three tough games and we'll have to utilise the squad. Up front we have Jozy, Connor (Wickham) and (Steven) Fletcher. Jozy's the main striker on the bench at the moment so we'll use him a lot.’

Altidore is grounded by a Crystal Palace player during a Premier League match in March 2014

American Altidore has played for his country over 70 times, but is struggling to get in Sunderland's first team

Poyet, though, says it is down to the player to make an impact when given his opportunity.

‘He has to do something special for himself,’ added the Uruguayan.

‘During the (good) run last year, he was more important for us than people might think, especially going on in the last 20 minutes, when he played very well.

‘At that time he needed to come in and produce, and he did that. He produced well at Chelsea (won 2-1) in particular.’

Poyet, meanwhile, hopes the club press ahead with Wickham’s contract talks. The 21-year-old’s deal expires at the end of the season and he is free to talk to foreign clubs from January.

But Poyet said: ‘Wickham's contract is something we are working on – hard.’