Van Aanholt forcing formation rethink for Sunderland

David Moyes admits it may take a change in formation for Patrick van Aanholt to crack Sunderland’s starting line-up – despite the Dutchman’s late equaliser against West Brom.

It has been an eventual fortnight for van Aanholt, who was replaced in the team just before kick-off for the clash against Tottenham on the advice of a cardiologist.

Having been given the all-clear, the left-back has since started twice but was dropped once more for the clash with the Baggies before he emerged off the bench to seal Sunderland’s second point of the season.

 (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)

And Moyes has suggested he is willing to incorporate wing-backs into his formation to make room for a man who can be as threatening going forward as he is defensively suspect.

“I’m pleased with the goals he’s come up with, I know that’s what he’s capable of, but I’ve not been so pleased with some of the positions he’s been taking up defensive-wise,” Moyes said of the 26-year-old.

“I felt as though I needed to do something about it. We did a bit of training this week with three at the back and four at the back, just to plant the seed in my mind as well.

“I’m not saying I will (play him there), but I had a look at it just to see what I thought. I just felt that he needs to improve on his defending because we know what he brings going forward.”