SUNDERLAND fans have witnessed the brilliance of Adam Johnson at first hand and Gus Poyet was mesmerised by the winger’s performances when he earned the Premier League’s player of the month at the turn of the year.

What Poyet is desperate to do, though, is find a way of unleashing magic Johnson on the top-flight stage in a red and white shirt week in and week out.

Johnson did not play a single minute of last Monday’s 3-1 win at Crystal Palace, even though he remains arguably the team’s most creative and dangerous talent when he is on song.

Poyet is a huge admirer of the Middlesbrough academy graduate, but is desperate to get Johnson back to his best by taking him back in time.

“A big part is the team and a big part of the team is Adam,” said Poyet. “I know him well from the past when he was young and I watched him a lot at Manchester City and England.

“It’s more about going back to his feelings when he was away from Sunderland, than to what he has been unfortunately feeling here for the last two and a half years. I don’t have a machine that you can transport him back to make him feel the player that he was. But that is the challenge.”

Johnson is still only 27, so he has plenty of time on his side. This week’s recall to the England stage of his former Middlesbrough team-mate Stewart Downing should have highlighted to him that the international door remains open if he can recapture his top form.

He has had a different kind of pressure on his shoulders since his £10m switch from Premier League champions Manchester City in the summer of 2012. Not only has he had the billing of an expensive fee as a start signing, his Easington-born roots mean he is aware of everything connected with the club.

Poyet said: “I have a great relationship with Adam and I can talk to him openly, even if he doesn’t play. We are trying together now to make him go to another level. It is a challenge between him and me and the staff - but especially between us.

“Because I have to, I have to put him on another level. This sort of club cannot afford to have Adam Johnson outside the team week in, week out and not take advantage of his ability.

“Probably when Sunderland signed him, he was that idea of a (Cesc) Fabregas or a (Diego) Costa joining Chelsea (relatively speaking). Now, were they playing in a certain way for Adam to be that player?

“I don’t like to just buy a player. I want to buy a player because we have this, this and this, and that’s what we are missing, and that’s what we need to win football games, or something to cover an option.”

Poyet did insist, though, that nothing should be read in to the fact Johnson did not play any part in Monday’s win at Palace as Sunderland gear up for Sunday’s visit of Everton, who have previously shown plenty of interest on him.

“This week has been special because he didn’t play and I needed to have a chat with him,” said Poyet. “It is not usual that Adam Johnson does not play one minute. I think people will understand what I mean.

“In this team Adam Johnson should be part of the team every week, some part. And then he didn’t play one minute, but that was because of different things - not starting him, the injury of Patrick van Aanholt, the change of Connor Wickham.

“It was a decision during the game and I don’t think it was a typical game for Adam to take advantage. Now we need him and we need him badly – even more now we have got a few injuries. It is something we need to do together.”

With Lee Cattermole suspended for Sunday, Poyet is weighing up whether to bring in a direct replacement in the mould of Liam Bridcutt or mix things up. Jack Rodwell, who should be fit again after a knock, is another contender to play in midfield.