Thursday 19 March 2015 15:50, UK
Sunderland midfielder Jack Rodwell hopes the vast experience of new manager Dick Advocaat will keep them in the Premier League.
The Black Cats, who sacked Gus Poyet and replaced him with 67-year-old Dutchman Advocaat this week, are in deep relegation trouble following a 4-0 thrashing by Aston Villa at the Stadium of Light last weekend.
Advocaat has previously managed eight clubs, including Rangers, PSV Eindhoven and Zenit St Petersburg, as well as six countries, including Netherlands, Belgium and Russia.
Rodwell said: "His CV speaks for itself. It's always good to come into a man of his experience, especially for young players like myself.
"We are all raring to go. He has had an initial meeting with us. Obviously he's only been here two days and I'm sure, over the next couple of days, he will have a lot more to say about our opponents this weekend.
“He just expects us to give our best, as we always do – things that are standard, really.”
Sunderland sit just one point above the relegation zone with nine games of the season remaining and travel to Upton Park on Saturday to face West Ham, who have struggled for form themselves of late.
And Rodwell said: "It's a massive game. Obviously, we were disappointed and hurt from the last game against Villa.
"We have got to take it in a positive way for it to motivate us, because this game is crucial. We need three points to bounce back going into the international break.
"West Ham started off flying and they have not been as good as of late, but I'm sure they'll want three points as well, to kick up the league.”
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