NEW Sunderland boss David Moyes took charge of his first full training session yesterday, with Jeremain Lens especially keen to impress his new manager after a frustrating first season on Wearside.

Lens was Sunderland’s prestige summer signing 12 months ago, but his £9m move from Dynamo Kiev fell somewhat flat when he was only able to make 14 Premier League starts last term.

He was briefly forced to train with the under-21s after Allardyce publicly questioned his commitment, but having spent some of the summer training on his own in order to build up his fitness levels, the Dutch winger is determined to make more of a mark under Moyes.

“What happened last year is in the past now,” said Lens. “I have started a new season and I want to look forward. Hopefully, it’s going to be a better season for me now.

“I had a hernia operation in February, and I have really been building up again from that moment. I think it helps that I was quite fit at the end of last season, and I was able to train by myself in the summer to get even fitter.

“I came back quite fit, and now I can start a new season. I had an injury last season, but I know I need to step up a bit more.

“Hopefully, Sunderland fans will see some more from me this season. I try to do my best in every game and every training session, and hopefully I can show the Sunderland fans why the club bought me.”

Lens would have expected to have been involved in this summer’s European Championships, but Holland’s failure to qualify for the tournament in France meant he was able to enjoy an extended break, something he feels could work in his and Sunderland’s favour next season.

“I had a really good summer with seven weeks off,” he said. “That’s the first time I’ve been able to have that kind of a break in the whole of my career, and I really enjoyed my summer.

“I came back fit, and I feel really good. I’ve been showing in every training session that I’m fit and I want to keep things up at these levels.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to have this kind of rest, and I think it has been good for me. Now, everything has started again and I feel good. I want to keep things up like this now, and if I can do that, hopefully I can perform better than I did last season.”