Sunderland head coach Gus Poyet has told his players that the ones who get his ideas on how the game should be played quickest are the most likely to be picked.
The Uruguyan has been working with the Black Cats' squad in preparation for his first match in charge at Swansea City on Saturday.
The club have not won a league game so far this season, but Poyet believes that the players possess enough talent to improve their fortunes.
"I just ask them to believe and be really open minded in the beginning," Clubcall.com quotes Poyet as saying. "They need to take it on board and to take it on board very quickly. Those who do it quickest stand a greater chance of playing.
"It's about knowing about everything we need to do on the pitch, to commit to the cause and we need to do it quickly. That's the most difficult part. It's difficult to talk about my style. But I try to make it easy for the players to go on to the pitch and feel comfortable, without excuses.
"To go on to the pitch and perform to their best. There are no doubts on their mind. We have to make sure we use their strength. There are players with plenty of quality here."
Poyet has replaced Paolo Di Canio at the Stadium of Light.
Steven Toplis
