GUS POYET will hand Adam Johnson a roving attacking-midfield role in an attempt to inject some much-needed creativity into his stuttering Sunderland side.

Johnson is confident of shaking off the knee problem that kept him out of last weekend’s FA Cup draw with Fulham in order to return to the starting line-up for Saturday’s home game with relegation rivals Burnley.

He will replace the suspended Jack Rodwell in the side to face the Clarets, and will be issued with a new attacking brief as Poyet looks to increase the goalscoring capabilities of a team that has scored just eight goals in its last 13 matches.

Poyet has earmarked Johnson to play as part of the central trio in the 3-5-2 formation he has adopted following Jermain Defoe’s move from Toronto FC.

The former England international played in that position in Sunderland’s 2-1 defeat at Tottenham, but whereas he also had to perform a number of defensive duties at White Hart Lane, he will be instructed to focus on his attacking at the Stadium of Light this weekend.

With Seb Larsson and either Lee Cattermole or Liam Bridcutt protecting the three centre-halves, Poyet will urge Johnson to provide as much support as possible to Sunderland’s front pairing, which is likely to be Defoe and Steven Fletcher even though neither player scored against either Fulham or Spurs.

“We’ve got a lot of games coming up, and now we have a player who is suspended (Rodwell) so someone will have to jump in,” said Poyet.

“I would like to say that Adam Johnson will be back, but we’ll have to wait on Wes (Brown) and see what happens over the next few days.”

Poyet’s frustration at the end of Saturday’s goalless draw with Fulham was easy to see, but the head coach’s comments about the supporters seeking a return to the “kick and rush” football that was played under Peter Reid, and “living in the past” as they continued to worship Niall Quinn and Kevin Phillips, have not been well received.

Poyet accepts that the Stadium of Light is not a particularly inviting environment at the moment, with Sunderland having claimed just two home victories all season, but the former midfielder remains confident the vast majority of fans still have faith in the job he is doing.

“I have no doubt about that,” he said. “And most importantly, I think they are still behind the players too. Sometimes, managers pass through clubs very quickly, but players stay seven, eight or nine years. I would like them to support the players too.”