GUS Poyet has no qualms about deviating from his preferred system in order to get the best out of new signing Jermain Defoe after admitting the striker needs to play in a front two.

The striker could not inspire the Black Cats to victory on his debut as Christian Eriksen’s late goal secured three points for Tottenham at White Hart Lane.

Poyet hinted he would change his formation to accommodate Defoe and having persisted with a 4-1-4-1 system all season the Wearsiders lined up 3-5-2 at White Hart Lane.

The Uruguayan admitted it was a risk to make such a significant change having had very little time to work on it in training, but despite seeing his side suffer a third defeat in four Premier League games, Poyet was satisfied.

“Losing is not for me, but I am pleased with us and I think it bodes well for the future,” said Poyet.

“We’ve seen in the past we’ve got different options. Some people like 4-4-2, some people like to play the diamond, some people go three at the back.

“With the players we’ve got at the moment it was the best idea (3-5-2). It was a risk because we hadn’t trained much, but a few of the players did it last year so they knew how to do it.

“It was just a matter of how the full backs who weren’t with us last season would adapt in a game like this.”

Poyet has experimentation with the 3-5-2 system before, but after three defeats – including the 5-1 defeat to Spurs – he changed back to playing one up front.

The head coach has been criticised for persisting with the lone striker given the side’s paltry goal return this season, but he admits that will change to get the best out of Defoe.

He said: “I know Jermain well. I’ve played with him and he needs to play in a front two.

“He will be one of the first names on my team sheet. No doubt. He’s come back here to play football.

“The cup game next week will give us a chance to give him another good run. He looks sharp to me and he didn’t want to come off.

“He wanted to score on his debut, but we need to be careful. It’s not about one game it’s about the whole season.

“He cannot play on his own so I’m sure he will benefit from that. The other strikers will be happy because they will have the opportunity to play in a front two.

“I think they will develop an understanding. It’s just a matter of playing and being match fit. Training will help during the week, but it’s playing games. The idea is to believe we can get results playing this way.”

Poyet has put Sunderland’s poor goal return down to the lack of chances his side have created. At Spurs, they arguably had the better chances, but they didn’t fall to Defoe.

The striker had a penalty appeal turned down just after Jan Vertonghen had given Mauricio Pochettino’s side a third minute lead, but replays indicated Chris Foy was right to ignore Sunderland’s pleas.

Fletcher and Danny Graham were both guilty of squandering clear cut chances, but Poyet is confident it is only a matter of time before they start going in.

“I think the difference was that we created. The penalty, people will only look at the foul, but Jermain is free inside the box with the ball rolling on his right foot.

“You would put money on Jermain in those situations. The Fletcher chance and a couple for Danny Graham. We’re talking chances inside the box with only the keeper to beat.

“That makes the difference between winning or not. How many goals has Eriksen scored in the last minute this season? That makes a big difference.

“When the winning goal is so late it hurts, but it’s part of football and you need to be good all the time, not just 88 or 89 minutes.

“That’s the disappointing side. For a new formation, for a new way of playing, away at White Hart Lane, we were doing quite alright so it’s a shame we didn’t get anything from the game.”